LXXXII l.VTUOUUCTOKV. 



An important part, of M. Quetelet's latest work consists of his demonstration of 

 the law of growth, his observations commencing at birth and extending to the age of 

 forty. The tables, which are the result of this inquiry, exhibit the mean dimensions 

 of all parts of the body, (the measurements numbering eighty in each instance,) both 

 of man and woman, year by year, from birth to the age of twenty, and every live ' 

 years fi-om that age to the age of forty. These are followed by separate tables of 

 female proportions, by actual measurement, from the age of eighteen to fort}-. It is 

 worthy of remark that the typical figure, or mean result, deducible from the measuring 

 of these women taken at random from the population, differs but slightly in its details 

 from that of the next table, which gives the dimensions of ten young Avomen, selected 

 for their perfection of form from the class of artist's models, and to the mean outline 

 obtained from whom he applies the term "fonne elegante.'' 



The applicability of the calculus of probabilities to the extent r.nd rate of devel- 

 opment of man's intellectual and moral qualities is but summarily touched upon in the 

 work under consideration. It is to be hoped that M. Quetelet may live to apply his 

 philosophical mind and large experience to the elucidation of this important branch of 

 .sociology.' 



Professor Bodio, of Venice, an experienced statistician, has devoted much study 

 to tlie question of the mean stature of his Italian countrymen, and his table of the 

 lieight of 100,000 men is a valuable contribution to the sulyect." An abstract of its 

 results has been included in the foregoing tables. The number of Italians avIio enlisted 

 in the United States Army during the late war was not large, amounting only to 339. 

 Their mean stature was found to be 5 feet 6 inches, or 1.68 metres. Professor Bodio' 

 gives 1.62 meti'es as the mean resulting from his tables. 



Modern anatomists have not generally made use of the continual opportunities 

 afforded them for systematic measuring of the cadaver. Gerdy's treatise on the anat- 

 omy of external torm deserves to be mentioned.^ In the introduction to the great 

 work of Boui'gery, Bernard, and Jacob, are to be found tables of the height and 

 l)readth of the human figure in some detail. The total stature being assumed at 100, 

 the various dimensions are laid down in relation to that standard. The results are 

 appro.ximatively correct, though there is some vagueness in indicating the exact points 

 to which the measuring-tape is to be carried."* 



The measurement of the ph}'sical and intellectual qualities of man, to which study 

 tlie title of anthropometry has been formally affixed, has now a settled recognition in 

 statistical science. The growing interest felt in the subject of late years and the 

 extensive observations now being carried on in various parts of the world waiTant the 

 belief that the present work will be found an acceptable addition to the stock of 

 Icnowledge the progress of which has been jjriefly outlined in this sketch. 



Tlie conclusi()ns arrived at up to the present time In" the most eminent investi- 

 gators in this particular branch of science may be suunnarily stated as follows : 



' Sioce the foregoing passage of the text was writteu, iutelUgenoe has arrived of the death of this distinguished 

 ni in at thi- a^e of s.ivcnty-eiglit year.';. 



- Jiiill. dc I' Acad roy. dc Jjclyiqiic, inie s<;ri<-. lonio xxvii, No. 3, 1869. 



' .Inaiomie diH furiuea exld-icitren dii rorpx hiimuiit a Vmaiic den jicintres, ncul/ttriirs ct desainateurs, Svo; and plates, 

 lo.in. Kiris. l*«l. 



' Jraile 101 phtdi riiimiomif de Vhi>mme. Ac, f* vols., (oli'i, I'liiis, 180j-'(i7. 



