156 LABORATORY MANUAL OF ANTHROPOMETRY 



tion hat the lengths obtained by subtraction are the actual perpendicular 

 distances between the two planes considered; and that, in case a bone 

 hangs in the body a little obliquely, its actual length will exceed by a 

 little its projected length, or that obtained by the subtraction of heights. 

 To give another example, take the distance in height between any lateral 

 point and a median one, as, for instance, thelion and omphalion. The 

 height of either of these, as taken, means the height of a horizontal 

 plane through which the point in question passes, and the difference in 

 height obtained by subtraction means the perpendicular distance between 

 the two planes, that of thelion and that of the omphalion. In actually 

 measuring the straight distance from one of these points to the other we 

 are dealing with an oblique line, which has nothing necessarily to do 

 with the horizontal plane of either point. 



Aside from dealing with projections, which is the really scientific 

 method of dealing with relative heights, the use of these projected heights 

 has the decided advantage of saving much time, important alike to 

 subject and operator. It is easily possible to run through the usual 

 list of heights (about 25) within a very few minutes, after which many 

 other measurements, such as the lengths of separate parts of the limbs 

 or the projected distance between trunk landmarks, may be readily 

 calculated in the study. 



In the other types of measurement, such as breadths, or girths, the 

 standing position of the subject is extremely convenient, with the possible 

 exception of the few that concern that portion of the figure below the 

 knee, where some stooping is required on the part of the operator, but 

 this is quite inconsiderable, as there is but a small number of such data 

 to be obtained. 



For measuring the body in the horizontal position the only absolute 

 essential is a horizontal table six feet or a little more in length, and two and 

 a half feet in breadth, upon which the subject may be placed upon the 

 back. To admit a little comfort a slight pillow is admissable, care being 

 taken that it does not materially change the position of neck or head. 



To these simple essentials many improvements may be added, for 

 the comfort of either operator or subject, or both. For example, the 

 board may be crossed by transverse lines in black painted and graded 

 to serve as an anthropometer; or, by means of some simple staging, the 

 metal rod of the regular anthropometer may be suspended horizontally 

 above the subject, while one of the cross-bars, slipping back and forth 

 upon the graded rod, marks the points desired with precision. Frassetto, 

 the anthropologist of Bologna, one of the chief advocates of this position, 

 has a table that swings upon a strong steel cross bar, which runs across 

 the middle of the table. The subject takes his position when the table is 

 set upright on the floor, with his feet standing upon the transversely 

 placed board at the lower end, and with his back touching the table top. 

 When this is done the table is swung slowly into the horizontal position 



