OSTEOMETRY; THE MEASUREMENT OF THE BONES 



119 



The numbers in parentheses give the number of individuals studied 

 in each case. 



Sacral indices like these are classified in three groups, with the fol- 

 lowing values : 



Index below 100 dolichohieric 



Index between 100 and 106 subplatyhieric 



Index above 106 platyhieric 



In general, averaging both sexes, the narrowest sacra (dolichohieric) 

 are those of Malays, Andamanese and Bushmen; sacra of middle pro- 

 portions are possessed by many Caucasians, American Indians, Chinese, 

 and Japanese; while wide sacra (platyhieric) occur among Australians 

 and the Apline peoples of Europe. There are, however, in many cases, 

 conflicting figures presented by different authorities, presumably because 

 of the small numbers of individuals measured, in some cases only three or 

 four. 



(6) Longitudinal curvature indices. 



mid- ventral straight length X 100 



4. Curvature index A (2:1) 



mid-ventral cui ved length 



_ n j D /o- ON maximum height of curvature X 100 



5. Curvature index B (8 : 2) - r^- 



mid-ventral straight length 



6. Curvature index C (9 : 2) 



position of maximum height line X 100 

 mid-ventral straight length 



These indices, devised by Radlauer, present the following values, al- 

 though the number of individuals used is often too small for final 

 conclusions. 



CURVATURE INDICES OF VARIOUS RACES 



Curvature 



Curvature 



Curvature 



In index A the nearer the index approaches 100 the flatter is the 

 longitudinal curve; in B the higher figures represent a deeper curve. 

 Thus, in the Simian apes both the high index A and the low index B show 

 that the longitudinal curve is slight, i.e., that the sacral axis is more nearly 



