[Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XVI, No. 6, Part II, pp. 155-297.] 



MATERIALS FOR THE PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 

 OF THE EASTERN EUROPEAN JEWS. 



By Maurice Fishrerg. 



CHAPTER I.^ 



Introduction. 



The study of the somatic characteristics of the Jews has re- 

 ceived the attention of many anthropologists in Europe. It was 

 suggested that because they have kept themselves socially 

 isolated for nearly two-thousand years, and have refrained from 

 intermarriage with other races, the Jews offer a promising field 

 for the solution of many obscure problems in the study of man. 

 Considering that they have been scattered over almost every 

 part of the habitable globe ; by involuntary and mostly forced, 

 migrations from city to city, country to country and from con- 

 tinent to continent, have been subjected to frequent changes in 

 their physical environment, it was expected that a thorough study 

 of their racial characteristics, may contribute to our meager 

 knowledge of the influence of environment upon race. If the 

 Jews, have really maintained themselves for the last four thou- 

 sand years in absolute purity, the effects of climate, altitude, 

 nourishment, economic and social conditions, should be ascer- 

 tainable by a study of their physical organization. If on the 

 other hand, they have intermarried with the races among whom 



^ The difficulties encountered while attempting to reach people willing to submit 

 to anthropometric measurements are well known to every one who studied physical 

 anthropology on the living. I therefore gratefully acknowledge the valuable assis- 

 tance rendered me by Lee K. Frankel, Ph.D., Manager of the United Hebrew 

 Charieties of New York City, by aftbrding me the opportunity to obtain anthropomet- 

 ric measurements in connection with my work as medical examiner to the Chari- 

 ties. Without Dr. Frankel' s assistance this work could not have been done. I am 

 also under obligations to Prof. Franz Boas for his valuable advice and suggestions; 

 during the preparation of the work. To Mr. Joseph Jacobs I am sincerely indebted 

 for reading and revising the manuscript and proofs. 



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