ANTHROPOMETRY 67 



(p. 55). In the absence of the specially made tube, use may be made 

 of a flat piece of wood, such as the ordinary tongue depressor, which 

 is applied edgewise into the notch. Method : Subject retains position 

 held during measurement of stature. The level is pressed into the 

 deepest part of the sternal notch, brought to and supported in hori- 

 zontal position, the lead is dropped to the floor or ground with the 

 string just clearing the abdomen, the cord is pinched by the thumb and 

 forefinger nails at the lower edge of the level, the subject steps aside, 

 and the measurement is read off against the vertical plane. 



With the anthropometer the measurement is taken direct, with the 

 instrument in front of the subject. 



3. Shoulder Height. This is an unsatisfactory measurement, on 

 account of the frequency of a faulty holding of the shoulders. It 

 should be taken on both sides, record being made either of both the 

 measurements or of their mean. Landmarks: the upper surface of the 

 outermost part of the acromion. Method: Similar as with measure- 

 ment from sternal notch. 



4. Span. The horizontal distance from tip of medius to tip of 

 medius, in maximum extension of the arms. Instruments: A vertical 

 molding (or wall) against which to apply one of the fingers, and a 

 broad horizontal scale on which to take the measurement (see 

 under " Instruments")- Method: The subject whose stature and 

 perhaps also sternal or shoulder height have just been measured, ex- 

 tends one of his arms horizontally until the medius is applied to the 

 provided vertical, and raises the other arm into a similarly horizontal 

 position. The observer applies his thumb nail to the medius of the 

 free arm, and watching the subject, as well as the continued applica- 

 tion of the medius of the arm first raised to the vertical, he directs 

 him or her to expand the arms as much as possible. As the expansion 

 takes place the thumb of the observer is pushed along the scale, until 

 the maximum is reached. That the latter has been reached can usually 

 be told from the attitude and expression of the subject. The arms are 

 then dropped and the measurement indicated by the nail of the ob- 

 server's thumb is read on the scale. The whole procedure is quite 

 simple. Normality of the parts entering into the measurement is of 

 course essential. 



5. Sitting height. The Geneva Agreement stipulates as follows: 

 "Sitting height. The subject sits on a horizontal and resisting seat 

 about 30 to 40 cm. high (this height being proportionate to the stature 

 of the subject); the knees are flexed; the dorsal aspect of the trunk is 



