ANTHROPOMETRY 79 



The easiest way to take the measurement is by placing observer's 

 left hand under that of the subject with thumb close to the point from 

 which the measurement is to be taken; applying the fixed branch of 

 the compass to the observer's thumb and with this to the marked point 

 at the wrist; seeing to it that the hand is fully extended, and bringing 

 movable branch into light contact with the point of the medius. The 

 rod of the compass is held parallel to the wrist-point medius line. 



Breadth. The most expressive breadth of the hand is that across 

 the palm, at nearly right angles to the length. 



Instrument: The sliding compass. 



Method: With hand in full extension, apply fixed branch of compass 

 to the angle formed by the thumb and the radial side of the palm, and 

 if necessary compress skin lightly until the point on which the instru- 

 ment rests is in straight line with the radial surface of the forefinger and 

 palm. The rod of the compass lies applied across the palm, and the 

 moving branch is brought to a point on the ulnar side of the palm 

 midway between the basal (metacarpo-phalangeal) groove of the little 

 finger and the line limiting the hypothenar eminence. 



The most satisfactory way of taking this measurement is for the 

 observer to place his left hand under that of the subject so that the 

 tip of his medius is just below the junction of the thumb and palm, 

 and his thumb is on the palm itself. The point of the movable branch 

 of the compass is now applied to the ball of the observer's medius, is 

 brought with this to the required position in the palm-thumb angle 

 of the subject's hand, and the fixed branch is brought slowly to the 

 requisite point of the ulnar side of the palm. This latter point may 

 be marked beforehand, but its location can be easily estimated. The 

 breadth thus obtained is nearer the maximum, more logical, and 

 easier to take, than would be that at strictly right angles to the length 

 and is much more characteristic than the breadth across the meta- 

 carpo-phalangeal articulations (Fig. 15). 



Left Foot. Length. Length maximum, parallel with the long axis 

 of the foot. 



Instrument: The large sliding compass. 



Method: The easiest way to secure this measurement accurately 

 is to direct the subject to place his left foot upon the bench (usually 

 that which has been used for determining the height sitting), without 

 pressure, putting all his weight on the right limb. The large sliding 

 compass is then applied so that its rod lies parallel with the long axis 

 of the foot, its fixed branch touches the heel, and its movable branch is 

 brought lightly to the most distal part of the longest toe. 



