This element of inherent inaccuracy also underlies the new measure- 

 ments of the men of the National Army, and the results though truly 

 colossal in their proportions will be decidedly less in scientific value 

 than would easily have been the case, if the necessity for accuracy in 

 measurement and the urgency of a preliminary training for such meas- 

 urements had been recognized by the army authorities. For the data, 

 aside from their military use, as observed by the Committee on Anthro- 

 pology of the National Research Council, could and no doubt would be 

 utilized for broader scientific purposes. It was therefore considered 

 imperative that the following directions regarding such measurements 

 should be followed to the letter. Unfortunately, these recommenda- 

 tions were not adopted. 



SUGGESTED DIRECTIONS FOR ANTHROPOMETRIC 



MEASUREMENTS AT RECRUITING STATIONS. 



(Committee on Anthropology, National Research Council.) 



Instruments. 



A. Tape 4 feet long, 1^4 inches wide, for measuring height; 



B. A wooden square, an adjunct to A ; 



C. Tape 3 feet long, Y% inches wide, for measuring chest. * 



Preparation. 

 1) Select the best lighted part of the available wall space. If a 

 choice is possible, select the side in which the light will strike the 

 recruit from the left side. 



(2) Measure with tape A exactly three feet from the floor, and make- 

 a horizontal line at that point. 



(3) Fasten tape A with a couple of suitable tacks or nails, vertically 

 on the wall, in such a way that its lower edge coincides with the 

 three-foot mark. The top of the tape will now be 7 feet from 

 the ground. 



Directions for Measurements. 

 1. Height — Stand recruit, in bare feet and without coat against the 

 tape on the wall. 



See to it that he stands straight, but without straining or stretch- 

 ing, touching the wall with his heels, buttocks and shoulders, and 

 holding his head so that he looks straight forward. The head 

 may touch the tape on the wall, but does not need to do so. 

 Apply wooden square horizontally to tape on the wall and bring 

 it down on the head of the subject, with sufficient pressure 



* There is a probable inconsistency in the recommendation for a three-foot tape-measure 

 for chest measurements. It would probably be best to furnish the examiner with a standard 

 tape-measure of not less than forty-eight inches; while for height measurements a measure 

 of seventy-two inches would probably be preferable to one of forty-eight inches, placed 

 thirty-six inches above the ground. 



34 



