BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [24] 



With infants it is desirable to learn the periods of the beginning and 

 their full ability in walking; the length of exclusive nursing and of 

 nursing in addition to other food; the manner of feeding exclusive of 

 nursing; the time of teething; and infant diseases with mortality. 



Among people who keep account of their age, interesting facts may 

 be obtained in regard to puberty, menopause, appearance of gray hair, 

 and data as to longevity. 



The occurrence and character of albinos should be noted in detail, 

 giving the family history. The occurrence or prevalence of goiter, 

 cretinism, idiocy, and insanity, as well as tuberculosis, is of anthro- 

 pological as well as of pathological importance. The description of 

 artificial deformations, mutilations, or operations, may aid in the 

 elucidation of certain conditions found among the skeletons or brains 

 from the region. 



Description of hair and beard is desirable. Note the ordinary and 

 the maximum length to which the hair or beard grows when not 

 trimmed; the quantity and distribution of the beard; the character of 

 both hair and beard, whether gross or fine, and whether straight, wavy, 

 curly, or in tufts. The color of the hair and beard often difi'ers. In 

 noting the color it can be referred to the standards, but it is more con- 

 venient to use the terms light brown, dark brown, black, pale yellow, 

 red and chestnut (red-black). When necessary these simple and gen- 

 erall}^ well-understood terms may be supplemented by further descrip- 

 tion and when possible, with specimens. 



If there be an opportunity, notes on the hair of the axillae and pubis 

 ma}^ be added, but these points are not of much importance. 



The color of the eyes, or more properly iris, is of interest. This 

 also should be recorded in simple terms. The usual colors are gray, 

 greenish, pale blue, rich blue, light brown, and dark brown. The 

 darkest shades of brown are usually classed as black. In anomalous 

 cases the iris may show spots of other colors. The conjunctiva may 

 be pearly white, bluish, or yellowish. 



The color of the skin is an item of importance and one seldom 

 properly reported. In this particular it is first of all necessar}^ to 

 choose for comparison the same parts of the skin, and among those 

 who wear clothes, preferably those parts that are usually covered. 

 The upper part of the arm or the back is especially suitable for this 

 purpose. In this case the color should invariably be compared with 

 and recorded by some well-known standard, and the observation should 

 extend to both sexes and numerous individuals. It was largely a lack 

 of precision in reporting the color of the skin that made a red man of 

 our brown Indian, and there are other similar examples. One of the 

 best-known arrangements of standard colors is that of Broca, a part 

 of which, for easier comparison, is appended to these instructions. 



