STATURE OF ARMY CONSCRIPTS AND RECRUITS IN INCHES, AS 

 DETERMINED BY LAPLACEAN-CHARUER FREQUENCY CURVES 



(By Arne Fisher) 



This table clearly emphasizes the error which underlies the non-critical 

 use of the general average and the importance of utilizing the frequency 

 distribution as a more trustworthy measure of physical types. In the 

 two diagrams three shades have been adopted, relatively for short, 

 medium and tall stature. The contrast, for illustration, between the 

 complete absence of persons of tall stature from the Japanese army and 

 the preponderance of tall men in the Swedish army is very striking. The 

 diagrams strongly suggest the urgency of more qualified attention 

 to questions of physical anthropology and the necessity of the ascer- 

 tainment of new standards which if available would meet many press- 

 ing army, medical and other practical requirements. 



STANDARD METHODS OF ANTHROPOMETRIC 



MEASUREMENTS 



The value of the anthropometric statistics of the United States 

 recruits or enlistments previously to the war is probably more limited 

 than the scientific use of the corresponding data for European con- 

 scripts, since no particular value was attached to the importance of 

 accuracy in such measurement. There are convincing reasons for be- 

 lieving that in a sufficient proportion both the height and the weight 

 were rather guessed at than ascertained with the required precision. 



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