MEMOIRS OP THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 



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TABLE U. Flattening of tibia and corresponding fibula. 



The measurements of the fibula were taken at the point where the maximum antero-posterioi 

 diameter was found. It is possible that, had some other point been selected for measurement, a 

 ratio more nearly constant between the indices of the two bones might have been discovered. 



The flattening of the fibula is accompanied by the following changes in the form of the bone: 

 The entire shaft is twisted outward on its axis ; the anterior portion of the internal surface is 

 brought more to the front, almost forming a true anterior surface to the bone; the interosseous 

 ridge, becoming more permanent and advancing to the front, divides the internal surface more 

 sharply into two surfaces ; the internal border becomes less distinct and allows the posterior sur- 

 face, which largely loses its identity, to become merged with the posterior part of the internal 

 surface. The bone is thus apparently compressed between the insertion of the tibial is posticus on 

 the inside and the insertions of theperoneus longus and peroneus brevis on the outside. The two 

 latter muscles are in their action adjuncts of the first. The "channeling" of the fibula noted by 

 other observers is also found associated with these changes. 



The columnar femur and platycnemia in various races. Measurements have been taken to 

 determine the relation of the various races as far as they are represented in our collections at the 

 Army Medical Museum. This investigation has been fairly exhaustive and has embraced the 

 large majority of all our accessible skeletons in good condition. In all 62 skeletons have been 

 measured. 



But even with all this number of individuals we find but two, or at most three, series which are 

 sufficiently large to serve as the foundations of generalized assertions. These series are: 



Pirst, twenty-four Sioux Indians: second, twenty three other Indians; third, six Negroes. 

 (See Table LXXVIII.) 



The reason why the Sioux are separated from the other Indians is simply because they form 

 a sufficiently large series and not on account of any presupposed differences as to platycnemia 

 and the pilaster femur. It might be as well in the present state of our knowledge to reckon all 

 the Indians together and hence we have said above that the number of our comparative series of 

 indices may be considered as either two or three. 



The facts to be noted are that the Saladoans stand between our negroes and Indians with 

 regard to the pilaster femur, while they possess tibia? of a higher degree of platycnemia than 

 any of the other races. 



From the lists of the individual measurements and indices some curious data may be culled. 

 We note the following as regards the columnar femur. (See Table LXXVI.) 



Both the maximum and the minimum of the series are represented by bones of hunchbacks. 

 The minimum index, that of the eft femur of a white male, No. 5433, amounts to only 92.15. The 

 maximum, which to the best of our knowledge is the highest index of the kind on record, is that 

 of the right femur of the female negro, No. 5432, and amounts to 159.18. This surpasses by 1.18 

 per cent the femur of unknown origin which Topinard mentions as having the highest index of 

 which he has ever been made aware.* There is nothing about this remarkable bone to suggest 

 the action of disease. It is true that most of the arching forward, which we observe in all femora, 

 is localized in this bone at about the junction of the upper and middle thirds. But this is a com- 



S. Mis. 169 15 



* TOPINARD, op. cit., 1019. 



