776 iiEPOET — 1889. 



We observe that in both districts tlie countrymen present a slower develop- 

 ment of the wisdom-teeth, and this agrees with the more unfavourable conditions of 

 nutrition and harder life to which the countrymen in Italy are exposed compared 

 with the town people. As to the liberal professions, the number of observations is 

 perhaps too small to permit one to deduce from them considerations of much value. 



In conclusion, it appears from these slight inquiries that the evolution of the 

 ■wisdom-teeth proceeds in conformitj' with the general development of the body, 

 and that the favourable or unfavourable circumstances which modify the latter 

 may accelerate or delay the former. 



I should have wished also to measure the facial angle of each individual observed, 

 in order to see the relation between the prognathism and the development of the 

 wisdom-teeth. We may yet make u-^e of the cephalic index, for we know the 

 direct relation which exists between this cranial character and the facial angle. 

 Not only are the brachycephalic races generally the most ortognathous, but do- 

 lichocephaly grows in the same race in direct conformity with the prognathism. 



The cephalic index of the 366 Lombards was 83'9 ; that of the 366 Marcbi- 

 giani 83-8. 



Here the index is almost the same. But if we divide each group into two parts, 

 one composed of those who have a higher index, the other composed of those who 

 have a lower index than the average one, we shall find remarkable ditl'erences. 



We then see that in both groups dolichocephaly seems to favour the de- 

 velopment of the wisdom-teeth,' which may be explained by the greater ex- 

 tension of the dental arch, i.e., by the greater prognathism. 



5. Left-leggedness. Bij W. K. Sibley, M.B. 



Professor Ball in ' Le Dualisme Cerebral ' speaks of man as a right-handed 

 animal. Being right-handed, it is popularly assumed that he is also right-legged ; 

 but this does not appear to be the case. Standing working with the right hand 

 there is a tendency to use the left leg for balance. Many people find less exertion 

 in going round circles to the right than to the left ; race-paths are nearly always 

 made for running in circles to the right. So the majority of movements are more 

 readily performed to the right, as dancing, running, &c. The rule in walking is 

 to keep to the right, and this appears to be almost universal. It is more natural 

 to bear to the right. Of a large number of people from the better-educated classes 

 asked about the existence of the rule, only Q7 per cent, males and 53 per cent, 

 females were aware of the rule ; the large majority obey it unconsciously in 

 walking. Crowds tend to bear to the right. The left leg being the stronger, it is 

 more readily brought into action; hence troops start ofl' with the left foot; it is 

 the foot which is placed into the stirrup of the saddle or step of bicycle in mount- 

 ing; so the left is the foot which a man takes off from in jumping. The 

 experiments of Mr. G. H. Darwin blind-folding boys and telling them to walk 

 straight, the right-handed ones diverged to the right, and vice versa. From measure- 

 ments of Dy. Garson of the skeletons of the two legs, .54-3 per cent., the left was 

 the longer and 35'8 the right.'-* For measurements of the feet the author collected 

 the drawings and measurements of 200 pairs , for which he is indebted to the 

 courtesy of Mr. Parker of Oxford Street, with the result that in 44 per cent, the 

 left was longer, in 21'5 per cent, the right, and in 34"5 per cent, they were the 

 same size. Measurement at the first joint gave 56 per cent, left larger, and at the 

 instep 42'5 per cent. From the table of the figures it is observed that the left 

 foot is more frequently the larger in the male than female sex, and the percentage 

 of feet of the same size is greater in the female. The percentage of the right larger 

 than the left is very constant, whereas the numbers of the left larger and those in 

 which both feet were the same size are much more variable. 



' Even Mantegazza (^Bulletin do la Sooiete d! Anthropologie de Paris ; Seance die 

 20 Juin, 1878) says that among the Romagnoli, who are greatly brachycephalic, he: 

 observed the frequent absence of the wisdom-teeth. 



^ Ten per cent, being of the same size. 



