ANTHROPOMETRY 53 



Use: for measuring stature and sitting height. In the laboratory 

 it is of some advantage to use a separate plane for each of the two 

 measurements, the plane for measuring stature being fastened one 

 meter above the floor, while that for measuring sitting height is 

 fastened directly above the bench on which the subject sits for this 

 measurement. In the field, one plane fastened one meter above the 

 floor or a level piece of ground, will do for both measurements, the 

 height of the bench in the case of sitting height being subtracted from 

 the total measurement obtained. 



Modifications. In the original planes of Broca, at a distance of 

 1 cm. from the left border, there was a fairly deep groove, which served 

 for a graduated sliding square by which one could measure the stature 

 as well as the ear and shoulder heights, and, together with another 

 appliance, also the facial angle; all these have now become obsolete. 



Paper or Cloth Plane or Tape. At the occasion of certain recom- 

 mendations made by the Committee on Anthropology of the National 

 Research Council, in connection with the impending measuring of 

 large numbers of recruits for the United States Army, the author pro- 

 posed 1 that instead of the more costly plane, special inextensible 

 linen or paper strips be printed to take its place. A strip of this 

 nature, 8 to 12 cm. broad, printed accurately on inextensible and 

 unshrinkable paper or other material (ordinary materials change 

 considerably!), is e^sy to work with and has the advantage of cheap- 

 ness as well as ease of transportation. They may be made in segments 

 of 50 cm. In cases of necessity a scale may be improvised on the 

 wall or other vertical, or on a strip of paper; or the ordinary anthropo- 

 metric tape may be fastened to the wall, rod, etc. An improvised 

 stout paper scale should be well varnished on both sides, to pre- 

 vent puckering, shrinking or extension. All scales must be tested by 

 standards. 



2. Anthropometer. A number of related instruments are embraced 

 under this name. Their common principle is that of a graduated rod, 

 single or in sections, fixed to a pedestal or with a free lower end, and 

 provided with a sliding horizontal branch. They are used for measur- 

 ing stature and sitting height, instead of the above described plane, 

 and are particularly advocated for work in regions where no vertical 

 such as a wall or tree may be found on which the plane might be 

 fastened. 



1 AM. J. PHYS. ANTHROP., 1918, i, 81. 



