HAWKES] SKELETAL MEASUREMENTS, POINT BARROW ESKIMO 21$ 



height 205 mm., breadth 150 mm., index 73.13. The measurements 

 of the male pelvis were as follows, max. breadth (external) 299 

 mm., general pelvic index 78.92, ant. post, diameter 106 mm., lateral 

 diameter (internal) 132 mm., pelvic index at superior strait 80.30. 

 It will be seen from the above dimensions that in the Eskimo as 

 in other races, the male pelvis is larger in the brim but smaller in 

 the outlet than the female pelvis. The dimensions of the outlet 

 appear to be unusually large in the female pelvis, which accounts 

 for the swift and easy parturition of the Eskimo women reported. 

 There is a general custom among the Alaskan Eskimo of expelling 

 the infant by pressing on the abdomen. This operation is performed 

 by certain old women, who act as midwives for the village. A stout 

 sealskin thong is drawn tightly around the waist of the patient, 

 the position of the child located, and pressure exerted downward 

 by the operator, who stands behind the patient with hands locked 

 over the abdomen. The patient kneels on the floor, in which 

 position she is delivered in a short time. The operation is not usu 

 ally commenced until labor is well under way. 



OCCURRENCE OF AN EXTRA VERTEBRA IN THE ESKIMO 



In the complete male skeleton (5864) thirteen dorsal vertebrae 

 were found instead of the normal twelve. The eleventh, twelfth 

 and thirteenth vertebrae closely approximated in form the normal 

 tenth, eleventh, and twelfth. The thirteenth vertebra was of normal 

 size and thickness, with well-developed lateral facets for the attach 

 ment of ribs. The thirteenth rib was present on both sides, being 

 rather smaller than the normal twelfth rib, but still well developed. 

 The twelfth rib, on the other hand, was much longer than in normal 

 individuals, and showed signs of cartilaginous attachment at the 

 tips. 



The incomplete skeleton (5429) also gave evidence from the 

 articulation of the presence of an additional vertebra between the 

 twelfth dorsal and first lumbar vertebra. Turner in the Challenger 

 Reports also mentions the occurrence of a supernumerary vertebra 

 in this position in the case of two Australians and an Eskimo female 

 skeleton examined by him. More recently Charles Dawson has 



