CARL SCHIØTZ. M.-N. Kl. 



Variations in bodily height. 



When we study the distribution curves (fig. 5) built on the results 

 of tables 3 a and 3 b, we see that the distribution of height within the 

 single year classes shows considerable relation to the zvell known and in 

 statistical hand books and anthropometrical researches often spoken of 

 binomial curve '^^. Whether the twotopped curve for 14 years old boys 

 corresponds to reality, a collecting about two medians, respective two 

 types at this age, or whether — if we had a still larger material to work 

 from — a coming together would take place, I dare not say definitely. 



With the rising age we see on the whole an increase of the extension 

 of the curve on the abscissa, a shortening on the ordinate, — in other 

 words, we get the impression of an with the age increasing individual 

 variation. This may be closer studied numerically by examining the 

 tables (table i), the standard deviations'* there shown, consequently a 

 measurement for the absolute variation (here expressed in centimeter). 





\c 11 n 13 iM 1*5 /5 1: 15 h: êcijcar. 2 s 3 '^ 11 12 15 iHy^-'^'^-s 



Fig. 6 a. Higher schools. Fig. 6 b. Public schools. 



From the public school material 7 — 14 years (on which, as before 

 mentioned, the distribution curves are built, we see a standard deviation, 

 which from 7 to 14 years age increases from 4.9 cm. to 7.6 cm. for the 

 boys; for the girls an increase from 4.9 cm. at 7 years to 7.2 cm. at 

 13 years, then a descent to 7.1 at 14 years. For the higher schools we 

 see that the highest values are reached at 15 — 16 years for boys, 12 years 

 for girls. 



The coefficient of variability (the standard deviation in percentage 

 of the average number) of course gives us a more significant expression 

 for the variability, and this coefficient we have shown in curve-form 

 after the tables (fig. 6). For the public school material — 7 to 14 years 

 — we find for both sexes a slightly rising tendency. The small waves 

 ought not to give any occasion for attempts of analysis, however. The 

 material of the higher schools, the years 9 — 18, respective 20, is of 

 greater value in the last mentioned respect. We see here for boys an 

 increase till year /5, then a decrease till 20. For girls zee see an increase 



Some very few isolated individuals — abnormals without any connection with the 

 other series of numbers — have not been included. 



f .11 



b^. 



