6 THE TABLES: EXPLANATORY 



backwards and the knees flexed, lifts the lower portion of 

 the body gently backwards until the lowest bony portion 

 of the os sacrum is in contact with the front of the measur- 

 ing standard. The back is then straightened until the 

 back of the head comes into contact with the standard 



(Fig. 1). It will be found 

 that different persons re- 

 quire to bend the knees in 

 different degrees in order 

 to achieve this position. 

 The head should be tilted 

 neither up nor down, and 

 the eyes should look 

 straight forward. T h e 

 measurement thus ob- 

 tained gives the distance 

 between the ischial tuber- 

 osities and the top of the 

 head. 



If no proper measuring 

 stand is available, fairly 

 accurate readings can be 

 obtained in the following 

 manner. The s u b j e c t 

 should be seated on a level 

 floor or a board, with his 



back against the perpendicular projecting angle of a 

 wall or cupboard to which the scale is fixed. He 

 should then proceed to seat himself in the manner indicated 

 above. On account of the influence of the gluteal muscles, 

 the trunk-length should not be taken when the subject is 

 seated in a chair, as this affords measurements that are 

 inconstant and that have been found to be as much 



Fig. 1. Taking the trunk-measure- 

 ment. 



