6 



THE TABLES: EXPLANATORY 



backwards and the knees flexed, lifts the lower portion 

 of the body gently backwards until the lowest bony por- 

 tion of the os sacrum is in contact with the front of the 

 measuring standard. The back is then straightened until 

 the back of the head comes into contact with the stand- 

 ard (Fig. 1). It will be found that different persons re- 

 quire to bend the knees in different degrees in order to 



achieve this position. The 

 Mr head should be tilted neither 

 up nor down, and the eyes 

 should look straight for- 

 ward. The measurement 

 thus obtained gives the dis- 

 tance between the ischial 

 tuberosities and the top of 

 the head. 



If no proper measuring 

 stand is available, fairly 

 accurate readings can be 

 obtained in the following 

 manner. The subject should 

 be seated on a level floor or 

 a board, with his back 

 against the perpendicular 

 projecting angle of a wall 

 or cupboard to which the 

 scale is fixed. He should 

 then proceed to seat himself 

 in the manner indicated 



above. On account of the influence of the gluteal muscles, 

 the trunk-length should not be taken when the subject 

 is seated in a chair, as this affords measurements that 

 are inconstant and that have been found to be as much 

 as 3 per cent, greater than those taken by the correct 

 procedure. 



FIG. 1. Taking the trunk measure- 

 ment. 



