Science in Public Affairs 



large degree among certain classes of the popula- 

 tion. ... It is a most disturbing fact that from 

 40 to 60 per cent, of the men who present them- 

 selves for enlistment are found to be physically 

 unfit for military service." 1 



It is doubtful if the Report quite justifies the 

 alarmist language of Sir John Gorst in the North 

 American Review of July 1905, but in the absence 

 of reliable statistics it is at least as wise to sound 

 a note of alarm as to take no news for good news, 

 and fall asleep again, a favourite official method of 

 procedure. However neither extreme is neces- 

 sary, and we note in passing the Committee's 

 opinion that " the impressions gathered from the 

 great majority of the witnesses examined do not 

 support the belief that there is any general pro- 

 gressive physical deterioration.'* 



There can be little doubt that the nation ought 

 to be able to know whether its physique is or is 

 not improving. It can only obtain this knowledge 

 from proper anthropometric statistics. It is im- 

 possible for these to be obtained on a sufficiently 

 large scale by private inquirers, and the duty 

 therefore devolves on the State. As the Com- 

 mittee says (p. 7) : " What seems to be wanted is 

 some permanent organisation, not necessarily on 

 a large or expensive scale, which, under expert 

 direction, and in collaboration with all the De- 

 partments of State concerned, shall be charged 

 with the duty of collecting and tabulating facts 

 which throw light upon the situation, and thus 



1 " Report of Committee," vol. i. p. 100. 

 12 



