T — (P-f-C), in which T equals height in centimeters, P equals weight in kilo- 

 grams, and C equals average circumference of chest in centimeters. For a man 

 1.72 meters tall, weighing 68 kg., and having an average chest measurement of 

 90 cm. this would give 172— (68+90) equal to 14. (5 ft. 7 in. tall, 149.6 lbs., 

 weight, 35.1 inches, average chest measure.) 



This index is used at the present time in Switzerland for the rating 

 of recruits, the stamina or resistance of which is superior to the average 

 in proportion as the index is smaller, and the larger the index figures 

 the poorer is the physical constitution, with a due regard of the 

 mathematical correlation of the more important anthropometric 

 measurements. The following table shows the index value and the 

 physical results, according to the Pignet method, as stated in the 

 Scientific American previously referred to: 



Index Value Result 



Low equals 10 Very good 



11 to 20 Good 



21 to 25 Average 



26 to 30 Weak 



31 to 35 Very weak 



High equals 35 Inadequate 



The Pignet index has recently been controlled or re-examined by 

 individual measurements of more than a thousand young men, made 

 by Dr. Fr. M. Messerli, in an endeavor to further perfect a system 

 already apparently of a high degree of intrinsic usefulness. According 

 to a recent number of the Archives d. Sc. phys. et nat., as stated in the 

 article referred to in the Scientific American, Messerli has succeeded 

 "in rendering it more precise by introducing a new element : the average 

 (B) of the circumference of the two arms (measured in the middle of 

 the arm while extended), from which he subtracts the original formula 

 of Pignet. The formula thus reads B— [T— (P + C)]. Taking the 

 individual cited above, if he has an average brachial circumference of 

 25 centimeters, then his numerical index would equal 25 — [172 — 

 (68 + 90)] =11. The numerous measurements made by Dr. Messerli 

 cause him to conclude that every positive result may be regarded as 

 good and every negative result as inadequate, the figure being the 

 limit of the index of the weak individuals (negative) and of that of 

 the strong individuals (positive) ; the more the result is positive, the 

 more the individual is resistant; the more negative the result, the 

 weaker the individual." 



LIMITED VALUE OF RECRUITING DATA 

 These preliminary observations indicate the very limited practical 

 value of general recruiting statistics and anthropometric averages of 

 height, weight and chest expansion for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 facts of supreme importance as regards the physical stamina or resisting 

 power of the recruiting material available for military service. All 

 official statistics are furthermore subject to inherent limitations of 

 trustworthiness not only on account of the want of uniformity in the 



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