114 THE HUMAN MOTOR 



WEIGHT OF THE HUMAN BODY. 



The average weight of the adult is : 65 kilogrammes for man 

 and 55 kilogrammes for woman, a difference of 10 kilogrammes. 

 And, as in the case of the height, a " senile diminution " is evident 

 at about the fiftieth year. 



The differences in weight in different countries are sometimes 

 very great ; thus there are races where man is massive and heavy 

 and some where he is " obese " by development of fats, which is 

 often the result of the diet. 



Bouchard denominated the ratio of weight to height as the 

 " segment anthropometrique " denoted by the symbol A. 



. _ weight in kilogrammes 

 height in decimetres. 

 He obtained the following results : 



Normal state A = 3-9 (woman) 



4-0 (man) 

 ... A =3-6 

 ... A =5-4 

 ... A =2-9 

 ... A =2-0 

 (an extremely rare value, even in prolonged inanition). 



Thus for an adult, weighing 65 kilogrammes, and whose height 

 is 16'80 decimetres : 



A = J^ = 3-87. 



The average value of 4 corresponds to a state 01 normal 

 nutrition. 



The weight of the body is an excellent proof of organic develop- 

 ment ; it should be particularly studied in infants and 



Emaciation 

 Obesity 

 Marasmus 

 Extreme marasmus 



