TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 975 
importance of the issues that were raised by those investigations, both from a 
practical and a scientific point of view. 
The author’s objects on this occasion were to call attention to the successful 
practical application of that research, to give instances in which it will be of 
immense public service, and to urge its general adoption. 
Last year, thanks to the courteous and cordial co-operation of Mr. J. E. K. 
Studd and the Polytechnic authorities, we successfully inaugurated the first 
society for the protection of its members from the injurious conditions of their 
surroundings and for securing their development by the application of natural 
laws. The Polytechnic Physical Development Society consists of about 200 
members, and the tables exhibited refer to the measurements of 100 members 
who have already obtained an increase of the chest girth of one inch and upwards. 
Their average increase is a little over one inch and three-quarters. It appeared to 
the author to be both just and expedient to divide the members into three classes, 
viz., those who had obtained an increase of the chest girth of one to two inches, 
of two to three inches, and of three inches and upwards, and their corresponding 
averages are: for the third class over one inch and a quarter, for the second over 
two inches and one-eighth, and for the first over three inches and three-eighths. 
A large number have already exceeded, obtained, or nearly obtained, Brent's 
medium standard. There has also been a considerable increase in the range of 
movement, and Hutchinson’s standard of vital capacity has been greatly exceeded. 
In the power of inspiration and of expiration the majority of us much exceed 
Hutchinson’s ‘remarkable’ and ‘very extraordinary’ classes. That increase has 
taken place in small as well as in large chests, whether the men were tail or short, 
under or over 21 years of age, and with or without gymnastic training. Our 
members are engaged in over fifty different trades and occupations, amongst them 
being clerks, compositors, printers, watchmakers, carpenters, engineers, drapers, 
warehousemen, &c., and they are engaged in those occupations from eight to 
twelve hours daily. Neither less instructive nor less significant are the variations 
in the chest girth that have taken place during the year. Some of our members 
are prominent members of the gymnasium, and as such have energetically pre- 
pared for the various events that were taking place in connection therewith. The 
author has frequently noted a large decrease of the chest girth on such occasions. 
The girth has also decreased when the men were much engaged in extra work, 
stocktaking, cycling, &c., or when they neglected to follow the directions given 
them. In fact, the increase or decrease observed has been in direct relationship 
with a corresponding change in the conditions of their surroundings. But it is 
not only in the ordinary routine of daily life that this relationship between the 
chest girth and the conditions to which it is subjected is manifested. In the 
treatment of consumption the author has obtained increases of from two to three 
inches and upwards. This increase of the chest girth is accompanied by a corre- 
sponding increase of the range of movement and of the vital capacity, and by a 
change in the type of chest from that of disease to that of health, for the author 
is happy to be able to state that that treatment of the disease has been completely 
and inyariably successful. In the presence of evidence of this nature, he would 
offer but a word of comment. What has been experimentally obtained has been 
also equally well obtained in the practical application of that research, One part _ 
of the investigations confirms the other, and the case as a whole is complete and 
practicable. The conditions by which these results were obtained were then 
referred to. 
The author briefly referred to three cases in which the introduction of physical 
development would render an immense public service, viz., the army, life assurance 
and sick benefit societies, and the education of children. 
The cases above noted urgently require the introduction of physical develop- 
ment, but where shall we find in civilised countries men upon whom its adoption 
would not confer a great benefit? Some time ago Sir Andrew Clark directed 
public attention to the increasingly injurious effects of progressing civilisation, 
and to the inability of hygiene and sanitation to counteract them. That is true, 
but here we have a new and most effective means of dealing with them, for by it 
