84 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



The principal physical effects on the skull of this deformation are 

 as follows: The antero-posterior cranial diameter is shortened, the 

 extremes of shortening ranging from a few millimeters to about 

 3 cm. The breadth and height of the skull are augmented, the for- 

 mer by up to 2 cm., the latter 1 J cm. The size, capacity, weight, and 

 thickness seem to be unafTected, or but slightly altered. The vault, 

 and occasionally also the base, of the skull show- more or less asym- 

 metry; in a few instances the compression is wholly unilateral (see 

 fig. 1). The facial bones proper suffer but little, but the orbits are 

 modified in the more pronounced cases of compression. 



The exact effects of the deformation on the brain form and gyra- 

 tion to a large extent remain still to be determined. Intracranial 

 casts show mainly a flattening and spreading of the occipital lobes 

 and a compensatory augmentation or prominence of the part poste- 

 rior to the central fissure. The majority of the fissures must be 

 changed more or less in direction. 



Physiological Observations on Children 



GENERAL 



Thorough anatomical, physiological, sensimetric, and psychological 

 studies of the Indian child are most desirable and promise valuable 

 results, but thus far contributions to these subjects are very limited. 

 They consist, in fact, of no more than small series of physical meas- 

 urements. The writer made it a point, especially during his last 

 expedition, to inquire into a few particulars of the Indian child's 

 development and functions, with the following results. 



Indian children of all ages are, as a rule, well nourished; excep- 

 tions are rare, particularly among nursing infants. Up to the time 

 they begin to walk the babies spend much time in sleeping, and, 

 being less subject than white chijdren to minor digestive and other 

 disturbances, they are on the average more quiet and less restless. 

 When they begin running about, they are active at all times of the 

 day. Their first teeth begin to cut mostly during the sixth month, 

 and the process is usuall}' accomplished without noticeable difficult3^ 

 The functions of crawling, sitting, and walking manifest themselves 

 nearly as among whites, though individual peculiarities are met with. 

 The Indian child is not backward in talking, although he does not 

 receive quite as much teaching or exercise in this particular as the 

 white child. 



Growing Indian children are j^lump, and many have very pleasant 

 features. When at home or alone they are playful; in general, how- 

 ever, they are somewhat more shy and less demonstrative, exul)erant, 

 or moody than white children. There are comparatively little fight- 

 ing,, little feud, and very little care or prolonged unhappiness among 



