TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D.—DEPT. ANTHROPOLOGY. 569: 
Since it is probable that many persons physically unfit for country pursuits 
find employment in towns, they may perhaps contain a larger proportion of the- 
descendants of the short dark race called Iberian, than rural districts. 
2. Anthropometry. By J. G. Garson, M.D. 
The methods of measuring the human body, whether it be the living subject or- 
the skeleton, have been so diverse that the results obtained by one observer can 
seldom be utilised and extended by another: each anthropologist using more or less 
different measurements. That a general understanding be come to, so as to obtain 
one system which would be universally used, is very desirable. Two measurements, 
both of great importance, will be dealt with in this communication ; these are the- 
measurements of length of the skull and of its capacity. 
The length of the skull has been taken as (1) the length between the nasion 
and the most distant part of the occipital bone in the mesial line; (2) the distance - 
between the most prominent parts of the glabella and the occiput; and (3) the 
length between the ophryon and the most distant part of the occiput. The first 
measurement of length has only been used by a few anthropologists in Germany, 
and as it has not found much fayour may be discarded, especially as it is not one- 
that recommends itself. The second method has been perhaps the most generally 
adopted on the Continent. It is the maximum length of the skull, and can be 
ascertained with ease and accuracy, alike on the living subject and on the skull, a 
matter of great importance. It has been usual to measure the length of the head 
in the living in this way, and the only objection that can be urged against its being 
adopted also for the skull is that the glabella includes the frontal sinuses, which 
are liable to vary in size and prominence. ‘The ophryo-occipital length has usually 
been adopted in this country, and the adyantages claimed for it are that it does 
not include the air sinuses, and that it represents more accurately the length of the 
brain. Its disadvantages are that the ophryon 1s not a definite point, but will be 
placed higher or lower on the frontal bone by different observers; the frontal 
bone being curved, the length of the skull will vary according to the position of the- 
point considered as the ophryon. The adoption of the one or the other of these: 
measurements should depend upon its relative advantages. The advantages of the- 
ophryo-occipital length appear to be more apparent than real, as in any case it is 
only a very approximate estimate of the length of the brain that can be obtained 
from it, owing to the different thicknesses of different skulls both in the region of 
the ophryon and occiput, while the disadvantage of its being uncertain, owing to 
different points being fixed as the ophryon by different observers, is a very serious 
objection to it. The glabello-occipital measurement of length appears to the author~ 
to present greater advantages and less disadvantages than the ophryo-occipital. He 
therefore thinks that the former should be adopted universally as the length measure-- 
ment, not only of the skull, but also of the head of the living subject. 
The capacity of the skull would be best ascertained by filling it with water or- 
mercury, and then measuring the quantity used for that purpose. This is not 
possible, however, from its porous and irregular character, not to mention its: 
numerous foramina. We have, therefore, to resort to the use of solid substances. 
For this purpose sand has keen used, but is now abandoned as not being satisfactory. 
Filling the cranium with mustard seed, and gently rolling it backwards and for-- 
wards and from side to side at intervals during the process, was practised by Mr. 
Busk, but has likewise not been found satisfactory, owing to the results obtained 
being uncertain, and the capacity indicated being less than the actual capacity.. 
Shot was used by Morton, but with indifferent success. It was not until intro— 
ducing the maximum quantity of shot or seed was practised that more certain: 
results were obtained. Professor Flower modified Mr. Busk’s method with mustard: 
seed by tapping on the skull while the seed was being introduced, and again 
whilst the quantity which had been got into the cranium was being ascertained 
by pouring the seed into a graduated glass vessel, the seed being run into the- 
skull and into the measuring glass through the same funnel. This method, while 
