The Growth of Children. 101 



comparison may be made. This being the case the following 

 brief enumeration of the points to which the attention of the 

 collector of vital statistics may profitably be directed will, 

 perhaps, not be considered out of place : — 



I. The infliienee of geograj)hical and climatic conditions on 

 the size of groimng children. — It has been ehowii. by .the 

 researches of Dr. Gould and Dr. Baxter that th^^i^e )pf Adulii-- 

 native Americans is very different in different StJit'efe of ^the 

 Union, and even in different parts of the same State. It 

 would be interesting to determine by observations on children 

 how early in life this difference becomes apparent. 



II. The niimher of generations necessary for the comj)lete 

 development of the influence of changed climatic conditions on 

 the rate of groicth of a given race. — It has already been shown 

 (see p. 299) that this influence apparently begins to be felt 

 in the first generation, and it would be of interest to trace the 

 accumulating effect through successive generations by means 

 of inquiries as to the ancestry of the individuals measured. 

 This could most readily be accomplished in those Western 

 communities which consist almost exclusively of emigrants 

 (and their decendants) from some limited region of the Old 

 World. 



III. The effect (if any exists) of the season of the year on 

 the rate of growth. — This would be readily ascertained by suc- 

 cessive spring and autumn observations on growing children ; 

 and it is in recording measurements of this sort that fathers 

 of families and all others having charge of children have it 

 in their power to contribute most efficiently to the solution 

 of anthropometrical and ethnological questions. 



IV. The comparative effect of city and of country life on 

 the rate of growth. — In investigating this subject the effect 

 of climatic influences must be eliminated by restricting the 

 comparison to cities and the adjacent country, and regard 

 must be paid to the race or stock and to the social condition 

 of the individuals selected for comparison. 



