The Spinal Curvature in an Aboriginal Australian. 46\) 



as 117'5, the prominence of the lumbar curve exceeds that found in 

 the European spine. 



3. In living Bushmen the lumbo-sacral " ensellure " is much more 

 marked than in the European. 



My views upon this point were expressed as follows : " From the 

 differences exhibited by the lumbo- vertebral index, some might be 

 inclined to argue that the European had assumed the erect attitude 

 at a period antecedent to the low races. Such a deduction would be 

 altogether untenable. The difference in the form-adaptation of the 

 lumbar bodies with reference to the curve in a European and in a low 

 race can easily be explained when we reflect upon the difference in 

 their habits. The European, who leads a life which rarely necessitates 

 his forsaking the erect attitude except as an intermittent occurrence, 

 and then for short periods, has sacrificed in the lumbar part of the 

 vertebral column flexibility for stability. It is evident that the deeper 

 the bodies of the vertebrae grow in front the more permanent, stable, 

 and fixed the lumbar curve will become, and the more restricted will 

 be the power of bending forwards at this region of the spine. The 

 savage in whose daily life agility and suppler ess of body are of so 

 great an account, who is frequently called upon to pursue game in a 

 prone position, and climb trees in search of fruit, preserves the 

 pithecoid condition of vertebrae in the lumbar region, and on account 



of this a superior flexibility of the spine must result 



There is no reason to suppose that this condition is associated with a 

 smaller degree of curvature in this region." 



Still in the absence of fresh spines of the lower races, where the 

 lumbar region, composed of combined vertebral bodies and inter- 

 vertebral disks, could be examined, proof positive upon the degree 

 and character of the lumbar curve was wanting. For more than three 

 years I have made every endeavour to obtain the vertebral column 

 of a native Australian, Negro, Andaman, or Bushman. Through 

 the kindness of my friend Professor T. P. Anderson Stuart, of 

 Sydney University, I have at last succeeded in securing the spine of 

 an Australian girl, aged sixteen. It was sent in a zinc box, in which 

 it was packed with great skill and care. The curvatures were there- 

 fore in no way interfered with, and it arrived in a very perfect con- 

 dition. The erector muscles had been partially removed, but not to 

 such an extent as to produce any material alteration in the flexures. 



The flatness of the dorsal curvature and the strongly marked 

 cervical curve were the points in the Australian spine which on 

 cursory examination chiefly attracted attention. In other respects it 

 was apparently little different from the vertebral column of a 

 European. The strong backward bend of the cervical part was 

 perhaps the most striking feature. The flexibility of this region of 

 the spine and the strength and elasticity of the ligamenta subflava 



2 K 2 



