Effects of Gymnastic Training on American Women. 53 



The product obtained by multiplying vital index by total 



strengtii ( ^^ — ?V i. e., j)ower index. 



The four indices last mentioned were discussed by the 

 writer in a paper read before the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Physical Education, at its eighth annual 

 meeting in Phihidelphia, A})ril, 1892, entitled " Some Meas- 

 urable results of Swedish Pedogogical Gymnastics," and 

 printed in the proceedings of that Association. To this paper 

 those are referred who are interested in a furtiier description 

 of the indices. Here we will only quote some of the results 

 summed up. 



1. The vital strength-weight index grows parallel with the 

 growth of efficiency and adaptability to gymnastic exercises ; 

 and is indicative of the degree of an individual's training 

 with reference to gj-mnastic exercises. This index becomes 

 still more instructive in this respect if its component vital 

 index and strength-weight index are consulted also. 



2. Under ordinary circumstances those women of vital 

 strength-weight index lower than 0.2000 are not in condition 

 for gymnastic exercises so vigorous as climbing; those of 

 0.3000 or more are in excellent condition for such exercises ; 

 those between 0.2000 and 0.3000 are between unable and 

 well-conditioned. 



3. Under ordinary circumstances the vital mcZeic necessary 

 for ability to climb is in the neighborhood of 0.0474, but in 

 combination with a high strength-weight index or a very 

 energetic moral disposition some imperfect climbing may exist 

 with even lower vital index, and has been observed in a case 

 with as low a vital index as 0.0444. 



4. Under ordinary circumstances the strength-iceight index 

 necessary for ability to climb is about 5.4; but, in combina- 

 tion with high vital index or a very energetic disposition, 

 climbing may be possible with lower strength-weight index, 

 and some imperfect climbing has been observed in a case 

 with strength-weight index only 3.6. 



