INTRODUCTION 



however, been satisfactorily proved that such relationships 

 do not exist when individuals varying widely in size are 

 examined*. On the other hand it has been possible to 

 show that definite relationships between the weight of 

 the body, the length of the trunk (i.e. the height sitting), 

 and the circumference of the chest do exist, as well as to 

 demonstrate the uniformity of their relationship to the 

 vital capacity of the lungs. 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW METHOD. Before it is 

 possible to remedy the evils of under-development, and 

 to promote the cultivation of health and good physique, 

 it is necessary to establish on an adequate basis what are 

 to be regarded as standards of normality with respect to 

 the weight and the size of the body in persons who may 

 be taken as being in a condition of perfect health. Before 

 such standards could be arrived at, however, it was 

 imperative to determine definite relationships between the 

 weight of the body and certain bodily measurements in a 

 number of individuals of widely differing sizes and ages. 

 As it has been shownf that such relationships do exist, not 

 only between the weight and certain measurements of the 

 body but also between these bodily measurements and 

 certain functional measurements as, for example, Vital 

 Capacity it was hoped that the general application of 

 these relationships might fill a long-felt want in our 

 present knowledge regarding standards of healthy develop- 

 ment, good physique, and physical fitness. 



Although these relationships are comparatively simple, 

 the process of calculating each of them necessitates the 



* See " Investigations on the Normal Vital Capacity in Man and its 

 Relation to the Size of the Body," by Georges Dreyer. Lancet, Aug. 9, 

 1919. 



t G. D., loc. ciL 



