56 



BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



On analyzing this table it appears that in the first ver- 

 tebra, in this particular instance, the anterior measure- 

 ment exceeds that of the posterior, which is contrary to 

 the general rule in Europeans ; the anterior and posterior 

 depths are equal in the second vertebra ; while in the re- 

 maining vertebrae the anterior depth increases more and 

 more proportionately to the posterior depth until in the 

 fifth vertebra the anterior depth exceeds the posterior in 

 a very marked manner. 



This it is which gives rise to the wedge-shape appear- 

 ance in the last lumbar so typical in European spines ; 

 and which, as Cunningham has pointed out, is not found 

 in so marked a degree in the lower races. 



For the purpose of future comparisons and for the 

 reason that the original papers of Turner and Cunning- 

 ham are not always easily accessible in this country, I 

 take the liberty of reproducing here the most valuable 

 portions of their observations. 



It will be seen at once that the results in the two 

 tables correspond very closely except in case of the 

 Andamanese and Negroes. In the case of the low index 

 (99) assigned to the Andamanese in Turner's table, it is 



