96 ALE§ hrdliCka 



Even the smaller bones, such as those of the tarsus, may help in this 

 connection. 



In addition to the differences due to the general development of 

 bones, various parts of the skeleton occasionally present features as 

 for example perforation of the septum in the humerus, third condyle on 

 the femur, a teres major process of the scapula, etc., which do not 

 occur with the same frequency in the males as in the females; but as 

 they may occur in both, their presence or absence in individual cases 

 is not of decisive value. Furthermore, all the bones of the skeleton 

 when studied in lots will show characteristic sexual differences of 

 anthropometric nature, in absolute dimensions as well as indices; but 

 except in extremes these again are of only secondary value in the 

 case of individual bones.' 



In subadults, determination of sex is mostly hazardous, nevertheless 

 there are a certain proportion of cases in which it is possible. But 

 as the age descends the difficulties of identification rapidly increase, 

 until when we reach puberty and below, it becomes in general very 

 risky, if not impossible. 



Estimation of Age. — A correct estimation of the age of a skeleton is 

 of a much greater medico-legal than anthropological importance; but 

 by mastering the details, for which our science is favorably situated, 

 the anthropologist may occasionally be of substantial aid to legal 

 medicine. 



For the anthropologist himself it generally suffices to determine 

 whether the skull or skeleton is subadult, adult, or senile, and his main 

 criteria for these purposes are the state of the basilar suture, that of 

 the epiphyses of the long bones, the stage of dentition, the condition 

 of the teeth and alveolar processes, and the state of the sutures of the 

 vault of the skull. 



Of all the marks that the adult stage of life has been reached, the 

 most handy and reliable is the occlusion of the basilar (basisphenoid) 

 suture; and the value of this sign is furthermore enhanced by the 

 rarity with which abnormal processes affect this articulation. But 

 the basi-sphenoid articulation may be opened mechanically, through 

 posthumous changes in the bones or through violence, and the student 

 must be on the lookout not to mistake such a condition, which to the un- 

 aided eye may simulate very closely the normal suture, for the latter. 



The epiphyses of the long (and other) bones are normally all united 

 with their diaphyses by the end of the twenty-fifth year. The fol- 



' See author's " Physical Anthropology of the Lenape," etc., Bull. 62, Bur. Amer. 

 Ethnol., Wash., 1916. 



