ANTHROPOMETRY 13 



M. Papillault insists on the necessity of the present Commission 

 meeting at least twice a day during the entire session, in order to sub- 

 ject the various techniques actually employed in anthropometry to a 

 serious revision and to reach an agreement. The matter is urgent. 

 The Frankfort agreement has been abandoned by most of the German 

 scientists themselves, and the French method is no longer uniform. 

 At Paris the disciples of Broca retain perhaps the illusion of still fol- 

 lowing a uniform technique, but a little inquiry shows divergencies 

 which render all comparison of the results of some of their measurements 

 quite incorrect. The school of every country presents probably diver- 

 gencies of method among its different members which equal and even 

 exceed those that separate it from other schools. This simple state- 

 ment should banish from our debates all motives that may be foreign 

 to science. None of us would endeavor to defend a national tradition 

 which has proved incapable of preserving a unity of doctrine, and such 

 a tradition in fact exists no more. In its selection of a technique the 

 commission should be guided solely by fitness, simplicity, precision, 

 and the biological value of the various measurements. 



On the motion of Professor Waldeyer the commission decided to 

 limit its activities to the measurements of the head [and skull] which 

 are so numerous as to claim all the time that might be at the disposal 

 of the Commission. Every measurement which has gained even a 

 limited usage, together with the principal variations in its technique, 

 should be submitted by the Secretary for revision to the Commission. 

 In every case where an agreement will be reached, the Secretary shall 

 edit the definition and technique of the measurement in question be- 

 tween the sessions of the Commission, and submit the text for the 

 approval of the latter. 



The Commission terminated its work Saturday, April 21, and the 

 Secretary announced to the Congress that the report was ready in a 

 neighboring room where it could be freely consulted. At the same 

 time he offered to give the members of the Congress whatever explan- 

 ations might be found necessary. At the end of this day's session, 

 the report in its final form was presented to the Congress by the Presi- 

 dent, and received a unanimous approval. It here follows: 



Pboject of an International Agreement on Craniometric and Cephalo- 



METRic Measurements 



Preliminary remarks: The Commission classed as optional certain 

 measurements which appear interesting, but concerning which the 



