THE TABLES: EXPLANATORY 17 



for a sedentary life by regular exercise or sport, will have 

 a considerably larger vital capacity than an individual 

 of the same size and weight living an inactive life.* It 

 is therefore necessary to allow for these differences when 

 comparing individuals with other persons of the class 

 from which they are drawn. 



It has now been found that for all practical purposes 

 people may be grouped into three classes A, B, and C, 

 representing conditions of perfect, medium, and poor 

 physical fitness. It should be clearly understood that 

 the values given in Class A in no way represent the 

 maximum that may be found in a person of a particular 

 size, but are the average figures for the vital capacity 

 a Class A person in perfect health is likely to show. In 

 cases of persons exhibiting a particularly high standard 

 of physical fitness these figures may be considerably 

 exceeded. 



In using the Tables to estimate physical fitness, it 

 should first be ascertained, in the manner indicated 

 above, whether the subject's weight is normal or abnor- 

 mal. Having found the weight to be normal, the next 

 procedure is to see whether his vital capacity places him 

 in Class A, Class B, or Class C. To help in placing 

 people approximately in their appropriate class, the 

 Table on p. 18 is appended. Should the vital capacity 

 of a person who, judged by his mode of life, belongs to a 

 certain class fall considerably below this class (e.g. by 

 more than 10 per cent.), one might have good reason to 

 feel suspicious with regard to the present state of his 

 health. If his vital capacity be normal for his weight 

 and class (he himself being of normal weight), further 

 reference to the vital capacity Tables is unnecessary. 

 If, on the other hand, it is found that, although in a state 



* Loc. tit. 



