14 STATURE AUTHENTICITY OF DATA. 



Stature. — In the first fifteen table.s of this work, forming the anthropometrical 

 series, statni'e holds the most important position among the quahties treated of Out 

 of the mass of mateiials accnnnilated, the largest number of measurements of height 

 which were found to be sutficiently accurate in their relation to other particulars to 

 admit of their employment was 501,068. This is an extensive collection of observa- 

 tions, and, if its acciu-acy be proportionate, its actual value is very great. Careful 

 inquiry and consideration have led to the conclusion that these are, in the first place, 

 actual measurements, and not guesses. The instructions given to the examining surgeons 

 of the Bureau as to the mode of ascertaining the stature of the recruit were deal* and 

 stringent;' and the reports sent in by them give evidence that the height was measured 

 with a properlj" graduated rod with movable index. It may be stated here, once for 

 all, that a similar reliability characterizes the measurements of girth of chest, and of 

 weight. It has l^een observed, in the general introduction, that the statistics of height 

 put forth by the Sanitary Commission in their anthropological work were mainly 

 obtained from the adjutants-general of the different States, and that it was feared that 

 the dependence to be placed upon their exactness was but small. The reason for this 

 distrust is easily explained. In organizing a volunteer regiment, a jiressing need was 

 felt by all concerned to obtain, as speedily as possible, the minimum number of men, 

 (two-tlrirds, namely, of the full number,) so as to insure the mustering-in of the regi- 

 ment, and the consequent issuance of commissions to the officers. The captains engaged 

 in recruiting companies were desirous of completing their work for an additional 

 reason — the wish to relieve themselves of the burden of the temporary support of their 

 men. Frequently, the regiment did not go into camp until its acceptance was achieved; 

 the companies being often recruited in different counties. After going into camp, the 

 surgeon, always from civil life, and generally quite unskilled in the details of the 

 examination of recruits, upon joining his command, rarely made any exception on the 

 ground of stature. He might discharge a man for disease, but he seldom otherwise 

 interfered with those he found enlisted. It is certain that, in the majority of cases, so 

 great was the haste, and so unsystematic the recruiting, the man's own statement as to 

 his height was held sufficient, or it was guessed by the officer ; or, at best, that it was 

 roughly measm-ed against a wall or door-post, the shoes being seldom if ever removed 

 from the feet. Regimental rolls, filled with descriptions tluis obtained, were deposited 

 in the archives of the different States, and access to them was readily granted to the 

 agents of the Commission. From these sources they jjrocured over a million of state- 

 ments of height, to which were added a large numl>er fiu-nished from the records of 

 the rrovost-Marshal-General's Bureau, tlu-ough the Adjutant-General of the Army, 

 These last, however, were all measurements of men in hare feet, and, by their admission, 

 only added another element of discrepancy. It nuist be well understood that these 

 remarks apply only to the statistics obtained b}- the Sanitary Commission from the 

 public records. Tlie dimensions taken actually by their own agents are, no doubt, 

 entirely to be trusted, and have furnished some very valuable mean results. 



The arrangements for examining men under the provisions of the enrollment-law 

 were deliberately and systematically prepared. Before the call was carried into effect, 



' Spp IntioflnrtiiMi, ji. iv. 



