26 RACIAL ELEMENTS IN SWEDEN 



examples of this. There are many facts which co-operate to cause such changes. 

 One of the most important, which at the present time makes itself very apparent 



i owing so mass!=emigration, industrialism, commerce, war, etc., is the unchecked 

 mixture of blood which takes place between nations and races. This mixture of 

 blood has not only very apparent biological consequences, but it is also not 

 without influence on the cultivation of a people. 



We possess a relatively good knowledge of the present day Swede, owing 

 to the great work Anthropologia Suecica Professors G. Retzius and C. M. Fiirst, 

 which was published in 1902 and which is founded on measurements taken 

 from about 45,000 conscripts at the age of 21 years. 



The average height of the Swedes in the whole of Sweden was then 170.88 

 cm. Excepting Lappland all the provinces of Sweden showed an average height 

 of over 170 cm. Gothland showed the highest average or 172.74 cm. The two 

 most northern provinces, Lappland and West Bothnia (Vasterbotten), as well as 

 the two most southern, Blekinge and Scania (Skane), showed the lowest average 

 which fact seems to point out that the variations in the average height in diffe* 

 rent provinces to an important extent depends upon the mixture with races of 

 shorter stature (round skulls), in the north with Finns and Lapps and in the 

 south with Alpines and other race elements to be found among the people. As 

 the body has not finished growing at the age of 21 years, the average height 

 for a full grown Swede (after correction) is somewhat higher. (= 171.88 cm.) 

 It has further increased during the last twenty years. 



In the whole of Sweden 87 per cent of the population were long skulls 

 and 13 per cent round skulls". Within the first mentioned group 30 per cent 

 were genuine long skulls and about 57 per cent mesocephali. The greatest num* 

 ber of round skulls are found in Lappland, where they reach 23.67 per cent, in 

 Upland with 20.98 per cent, in West Bothnia with 19.03 and in Scania with 

 18.60 per cent. In the middle of Sweden there is also to be found a belt of 

 decided longskulls. Towards the north as well as towards the south the average 

 of the round skulls increases which no doubt has its explanation in the same cir« 

 cumstances which were noted in reference to the variations in the height of the body. 



Regarding the shape of the face it can be proved that the long, oval type 

 of face certainly predominates. (=80 per cent.) In the southern provinces how* 



* The Swedish Scientest Anders Retzius inaugurated in anthropology, (by which is meant the science of man and man* 

 kind and of his place in the scheme of nature), the method of using an index. By an index is meant a number by which the 

 relative size of one dimension in regard to another is expressed. 



The index referring to the length and breadth of the skull, which is considered an important race mark, is reckoned in 

 the following manner: 



The greatest breadth of the skull X 100. 

 The greatest length of the skull. 



The numbers one obtains by means of such a division very generally lies between 70—75—80—85. Higher and lower 

 numbers appear more seldom. 



One usually arranges the skulls, according to the different index numbers in the following way : 



1) Genuine long skulls (Dolichocephali) with an index no: below 75, 



2) Medium skulls (Mesocephali) » » » » between 75 — 80. 



3) Round skulls (Brachycephali) » » » » above 80. 



It often happens that the long and oval skulls are reckoned as belonging to one group, which is called by the common 

 name of long skulls. (Dolichocephali). The boundary number is 80, as is shown above. 



