234 



EEPORT — 1881. 



The tables show some new and interesting facts in connection with 

 the iDhysical development of the body at different periods of life. Below 

 the age of ten years the observations are very imperfect, but from that 

 age up to sixty years they are very numerous, and fairly representative of 

 all classes of the population. 



The accompanying chart (PI. III.) shows graphically the variations in 

 the mean height, chest-girth, weight, and strength of the general population 

 with advancing age, and the relation of these qualities to each other ; and 

 the following figures show their actual value : — 



Relative Increase in the Size, Weight, and Strength of the Body from 



5 to 70 years of age. 



1. After the age of 10 years the greatest increase in stature takes 

 place at 13 and 14 ; in chest-girth at 16 and 17 ; in weight at 15, 16, and 

 17 ; and in strength at 15, 16, 17, and 18 years. The chest-girth and the 

 strength have a more direct relation to the weight than to the stature. 



2. The stature increases rapidly to the age of 21, after which there is 

 a very slow, but decided increase, in all classes (see Table V.), up to the 

 age of 70 years. 



3. The weight increases rapidly up to the age of 19, after which it 

 continues to increase slowly but uniformly up to the age of 70 years. 



4. The chest-girth increases at a rate similar to that of the weight up 

 to the age of 50 years (the limit of the Committee's observations). 



5. The strength increases rapidly and at a rate similar to that of the 

 weigbt up to the age of 19, more slowly and regularly up to .30, after 

 which it declines at an increasing rate to the age of 60 yeai's. 



