Anthropometric Statistics of Amherst College. 43 



TahU J. — Showing the average and mean measurements, in respect to 

 six items, of 210G students between 15 years and 3 months and 35 years 

 and 6 months of age, with an average age of 21 years and 1 month. 



A study was made showing the relation of the trunk, the 

 arm reach, and the horizontal length of the body. 



The results given below QTahle K) were secured from 

 measurements of 327 students, the whole college numbering 

 340. The measurements were taken during March and April, 

 1882, and the average age of all men measured was 21 years 

 and six months. 



One of the objects to be gained from this work is to learn 

 the relation between the length of the cerebro-spinal column, 

 the perpendicular height of the body, its length when 

 extended horizontally, and the distance between the tips of 

 the middle fingers when the arms are fully extended. 



Medical Director Ruschenberger of the U. S. Army says : 

 "Jt seems probable that the length of the cerebro-spinal 

 column may be a more valuable element in estimating the 

 physical qualifications of a recruit than total stature. Obser- 

 vation has led me to conjecture that as a rule men of average 

 height, made up of a long trunk and comparatively short 

 lower extremities, possess greater power to endure with 

 impunity great labor and exposure to vicissitudes of all kinds 

 than men who have comparatively long lower limbs and short 

 trunk." 



The relative measurements of these jjortions of body have 

 been made, and the results are seen in the appended table. 

 And these results are given by class averages, and by aver- 

 ages of the aggregate students, which are expressed both in 

 the metric and in the English system. 



