OSTEOMETRY; THE MEASUREMENT OF THE BONES 49 



ent investigators, but had the obvious disadvantage of rendering a direct 

 comparison of the work of different craniometrists uncertain or impossible. 



To improve this disadvantageous state of things the International 

 Anthropological Congress of 1906, which met at Monaco in April of that 

 year, appointed a committee to establish a definite list of the most com- 

 monly used and essential cranial measurements, to include also the pre- 

 cise method by which each should be taken.* 



These measurements were presented under 32 numbers, although certain 

 ones, like the " Cranial heights, " and the "Measures of the bony palate, " 

 included several separate measures. A few were marked "facultative," 

 to be further tried out before becoming canonical. 



Since that time anthropometrists have endeavored to keep to these 

 prescriptions, although they are considered purely as an expression of 

 the general opinion, and not in any way binding upon the individual 

 investigator. It is, however, to be expected that in case of departure 

 from the prescription a good reason for such departure should be given, 

 to avoid careless, or otherwise purposeless, variation from the generally 

 accepted standard. 



The measurements selected by the Agreement of 1906, are given here. 

 In compiling them the original reports, as given in French, German, 

 and English versions, were used, but the language used here is put into 

 more recent form, and employs in the designations of termini many land- 

 marks more recently determined, and precisely denned in the list above. 

 They are the following: 



A. THE SKULL PROPER 



1. Maximum Cranial length; the greatest diameter of the cranium in 

 the median sagittal plane. 



Anatomical points; in front, the glabella behind, the most salient 

 point of the supra-occipital in the median line; the opis- 

 thocranium. Cr. 



In taking this measure one point of the calipers is held upon the 

 glabella, while the other is passed over the surface of the supra- 

 occipital in the median line. The point which gives the maximum 

 measurement is the opisthocranium, and this measurement is the 

 one sought. 



2. Glabella-inion length; this is similar to the preceding, except that 

 a definite point, the inion, is used. This point is often difficult of exact 

 location, however, and the value of this measurement may be considered 

 somewhat doubtful (cf. above, under Landmarks inion). Cr. 



3. Maximum cranial breadth; this is the greatest breadth that can be 

 obtained while keeping the two points of the craniometer opposite each 



"The members of this Committee were as follows: Waldeyer (president), G. 

 Sergi (vice-president), Papillault (secretary), Hamy, Herv6, Lissauer, v. Luschan, 

 Pittard, Pozzi, Verneau. 



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