REPORT OF THE ANTHROPOMETRIC COMMITTEE. 259 
Trish, occupying the second place in stature, come last in weight, and 
the Welsh, though lowest in stature, stand second in weight. For each 
inch of stature a Scotchman weighs 2°406 lbs., a Welshman 2°375 lbs., 
an Englishman 2-301 Ibs., and an Irishman 2°270 lbs. 
_ 19. The columns showing the number of individuals per thousand at 
each height, besides showing in a uniform manner the relative stature 
and weight of the different nationalities, will be useful to military sur- 
geons for determining the minimum stature of recruits for the army. 
From the run of the figures it is obvious that if each country has to 
contribute its relative quota of soldiers, the minimum standard for Welsh 
recruits should be two inches lower, and for English and Irish recruits 
one inch lower, than for Scotch recruits. This difference in the relative 
stature is best shown by the black line running across the table, which 
marks the mean height—that is to say, the height at which the greatest 
number of observations occur in each nationality. 
20. It is probable that too much importance has been attached to 
stature in selecting recruits for the army in this country, and that a 
shigh standard does not necessarily produce men best fitted for military 
duties. In the Report for 1879 are given two tables of the stature and 
weight of the English, Scotch, and Irish recruits for the years 1862-3, 
when the minimum standard of height was 66 inches (1°677 métres), and 
in 1864-65, when it was reduced to 65 inches (1°626 métres); and the 
result of this change was to lower the general average stature of English 
recruits by only 0°17 inch, of the Scotch by 0°21 inch, and the Irish by 
0-25 inch, but in all three nationalities to increase the average weight— 
the English by 1°3 lbs., the Scotch by 6°7 lbs., and the Irish by 0°8 lb. 
21. Although the minimum standard was the same for all the 
nationalities, the influence of race is indicated by the difference in the 
average stature of the recruits. The English and Welsh recruits (who 
were not distinguished from each other) were shorter in stature than the 
Irish by 0°30 inch, and the Scotch by 0°44 of an inch.! 
22. The measurements of the chest given in Table I. are almost 
entirely those of Englishmen, and must be studied in connection with the 
English observations of height and weight ; and the same remark applies 
to the figures relative to strength. The chest-girths were taken by the 
method adopted in the British army, and the strengths by the spring- 
‘balance introduced by this Committee, and described in Appendix A. 
23. An examination of Table I. shows that an adult Englishman ot 
‘typical proportions has a stature of 5 feet. 74 inches; a chest-girth of 
364 inches; a weight of 10 stones 10 lbs.; and is able to draw, as in 
drawing a bow, a weight of 773 pounds. These are the mean propor- 
tions. The averages give greater weight for height; they are :—Height, 
5 feet 74 inches; weight, 11 stones 1 lb.; empty chest-girth, 36°46 inches; 
and strength, 79°6 lbs. For every variation of an inch in stature above 
or below the average, 2°301 lbs. weight, *542 inch chest-girth, and 
1182 lbs. strength must be added or subtracted to keep up the typical 
proportions. This rule of proportion is, however, only approximately 
correct, as variations in the stature depend largely on the length of the 
lower limbs, while the other qualities depend chiefly on the size of the 
trunk. In ascending the scale of height, therefore, the above figures are 
probably a little too great, while in the opposite direction they are barely 
‘sufficient, but in either case they are sufficiently near for all practical 
? Further tables relating to recruits are given in Appendix B to this Report, 
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