300 rREPORT—1883. 
ConcLusIoN. 
67. Attention has been called to some of the principal points of 
interest in the data collected by the Committee, but in many respects the 
tables have been left to speak for themselves; and it is not improbable 
that a study of them will lead some persons to conclusions differing 
more or less from those given in this Report.! 
68. The original returns, which the Committee recommend may be 
placed in the charge of the Anthropological Institute for preservation 
and future examination, comprise many statistics which could not be 
introduced into this Report on account of the time-and labour required 
for their analysis and tabulation. 
69. The Committee believes that it has laid a substantial foundation 
for a further and more exhaustive study of the physical condition of a 
people by anthropometric methods, and that its action will prove it has 
‘been useful as an example to other scientific societies and to individuals 
an stimulating them, as well as directing them, in the methods of making 
‘statistical inquiries relative to social questions. The medical officers, 
managers, or superintendents of many colleges, schools, and charitable in- 
stitutions have been induced to keep registers of the physical proportions of 
‘those under their charge, which will in afew years become valuable records, 
mot only of the physical condition of the inmates of their institutions, 
but of the sanitary conditions under which they have lived; they will 
also be available for the further study of the subjects specially treated of 
‘in this Report. The Collective Investigation Committee of the British 
Medical Association propose to carry on the work of this Committee in a 
direction which it is most needed, namely, by issuing an album in which 
persons may methodically record at frequent intervals their height, weight, 
and other physical qualities, together with points in their personal and 
medical history. The Committee hopes that this habit will be largely 
adopted and encouraged by the members of the British Association. 
70. The Committee has to express its thanks to the numerous contri- 
butors to their store of facts, whose names and contributions have been 
published from time to time in their interim reports, and to numerous 
friends who, although not contributors themselves, have induced others 
to give their assistance. 
4 The inquiries relative to breathing capacity were abandoned in 1879 on account 
«of the unsatisfactory nature of the returns received previous to that year. The 
apparatus were faulty. 
The statistics relating to eyesight were dealt with in the Report for 1881, and the 
returns since received are not sufficient to require a further discussion of the subject. 
The subject of colour-blindness was taken up by a Special Committee of the 
Ophthalmological Society after it had been inaugurated by this Committee, and it was 
given up on that account. The very interesting report of the Special Committee is 
published in the first volume of the Zrans. of the Ophthal, Soc. 1881. 
