ANTHROPOMETRY 37 



ought not to constitute a part of the final report. No calculation in 

 anthropometry is so abstruse that it could not be presented in the 

 final report in plain terms, freely and unequivocably intelligible to all 

 workers in the branch, and to other intelligent readers. Whenever a 

 doubt arises in the mind of a conscientious worker as to what method 

 of analysis or special presentation would be preferable — and there will 

 be not a few of such cases — his best guides will be the relative useful- 

 ness of the procedure, and the simplicity of presentation. 



Most of these points will be dealt with further on special occasions. 



Ill 



The best and in fact the only sufficient preparation for scien- 

 tific anthropometry, are the studies which lead to the degree of 

 doctor of medicine. In fault of such complete courses there should 

 be at least equivalent courses in anatomy, physiology and pathology. 

 Being the comparative science of man, physical anthropology and its 

 handmaid anthropometry deal with the whole range of human varia- 

 tion, which, while essentially structural and functional, is at every 

 step modified or modifiable by pathological conditions. The student 

 with a simple A.B. or Ph.D. without the special courses here men- 

 tioned, has a great and often insurmountable disadvantage for a career 

 in physical anthropology even though he was able to receive legitimate 

 instruction in the latter and training in anthropometry. He will 

 remain a bird with a paralyzed wing. 



Besides a suitable scientific foundation the worker-to-be in anthro- 

 pometry should possess a good reading knowledge, in addition to 

 English, of the French and German languages, at least, for the bulk of 

 anthropological literature is still in those languages and there are 

 very few translations. He should further possess good training in 

 drawing as well as in photography. Moreover, if he is to make anthro- 

 pology and anthropometry his life vocation he must also possess 

 certain physical qualifications. He must have good, enduring eye- 

 sight; and large capacity for work both in the field and in the labora- 

 tory. Last but not least, he should possess those mental qualities 

 which will enable him to follow his work with undimmed enthusiasm 

 and vigor under smaller material compensation and perhaps other 

 advantages than those of his friends who have remained in medical 

 practice or chosen other vocations; for anthropology is not an indus- 

 trial necessity. The compensations for this lie in the high grade of 

 his work. He deals intimately with the highest of organisms, he 



