HRDLicKA] PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS 143 



The simple life, prevalence of ve<z:etablc food, and less abundance in 

 diet suggest themselves, with other agencies, as the possible causes 

 of this. But whatever the actual causes may be, they must lie far 

 in the past of the people, for the slowness of the pulse, at least, is so 

 general as to constitute already a racial character, appearing early 

 in life (see chapter on Children) and strong enough to persist under 

 changing conditions." 



MUSCULAR FORCE 



The tests for muscular force in adults included the maximum 

 pressure in each hand and the greatest possible traction, all in stand- 

 ing position; they were secured with JMathieu's dynamometer of 

 recent make. The instrument was of the same type and the methods 

 were the same as those in similar tests on children (see chapter deal- 

 ing with children), and no special difficulties that might mar the 

 accuracy of the results were encountered.'' 



Numerous tests made with the same instrument and with similar 

 precautions on adult American-born whites gave the writer records 

 ranging, for pressure in the right hand, in males from 35 to 60, in 

 females from 25 to 38 kg. ; for pressure in the left hand, in males 30 

 to 50, in females 20 to 30 kg., and for traction, in males from 20 to 

 35, in females from 12 to 20 kg. A healthy right-hamled white 

 man, of from 25 to 40 years of age, used to some muscular work or 

 exercise, will press with the right hand 50 to 55, with the left 40 to 

 45, and pull 25 to 30 kg.; a healthy right-handed white woman 

 between similar limits of age and with a good muscular tone, can 

 press with the right hand 30 to 35, with the left 20 to 30, and pull 15 

 to 20 kg. As age advances the muscular force in general becomes 

 gradually less. 



The conditions in the Indian adults of the various tribes studied are 

 represented in the succeeding tables, in which the tribes are ranged 

 from the tallest to the shortest (masculine stature), while the indi- 

 viduals are grouped by approximate ages. 



The figures show that the male Indian, even at his best, does 

 not quite ecjual, so far as the strength in his hands and arms is con- 

 cerned, a strong white American; with the women of several of the 

 tribes and white working women of similar ages the relation would 

 probably be closer. 



Muscular force diminishes, particularly in the males, with decrease 

 in height in the tribes. Tall individuals in the same tribe are also 

 the stronger, as will be seen from the next figures, though there are 

 some exceptions to this rule. 



a For detail data on pulse, respiration, and temperature see Appendix. 



b All cases that might have been affected by any injury were excluded. The lack of a larger part of 

 any finger was seen to diminish the power of pressure in the hand having the defect. 



