ON THE NEED OF CHECKING IN ANTHROPOMETRY 



CHARLES B. DAVENPORT 



Carnegie Institution of Washington, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 



Every measurement, no matter how precise, has a certain error. The 

 more flexible, mobile and ill defined the object measured the larger is the 

 probable error of the measurement. It is possible to measure the length 

 of a moving earthworm, but the error is very large. On the other hand, the 

 diameter of a crystal can be measured more accurately. 



Measurements made on the living human body are subject to an error 

 and this, in the case of certain dimensions, is large. In addition to the 

 changes in shape of the pulsating, living body there are possible errors in 

 reading instruments, in calling off the numbers, in hearing the numbers by 

 the recorder, in entering on the record sheet. Just a naked number asso- 

 ciated with a particular dimension is worthy of little confidence, especially 

 if it differs considerably from expectation. 



Owing to the importance of knowing the error of one's measurements it 

 would seem desirable to take measurements of each dimension on the 

 individual either more than once in exactly the same way, or in more than 

 one way. 



For example, I have been in the habit of taking the measurement of 

 stature at least 3 times, each time stimulating the subject to stand as tall 

 as possible. So long as the heel does not leave the floor it is fairly obvious 

 that the tallest stature is the best defined and may well be taken as the 

 required measurement. Similarly in measurements of the height of bilat- 

 eral points, such as acromion, I am in the habit of measuring both sides of 

 the body. In the case of appendages, they are measured both from the 

 floor and also directly with the anthropometer used as calipers. They may 

 be measured a third time in span, elbow span and elbow to dactylion. 

 Similarly the length of the legs is roughly checked by the sitting height, by 

 the measurement of symphysion, anterior iliac spine, gluteal fold and, where 

 possible, trochanter height. 



In my own work I have found it useful to have a so-called checking sheet 

 in which the measurements of particular organs, taken in different ways, are 

 recorded during the course of measurement. If they do not check within 

 expected limits then the dimensions are measured again. Thus the distance 



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