52 Decay of National Physique. 



Dr. Samuel Browne expressed the pleasure it afforded him 

 to say a few words on that important subject. He must con- 

 gratulate his young friend Dr. Lindsay on the very able paper 

 he had brought before the Society. He had introduced a 

 variety of topics which are of great value and importance to 

 every individual in the community. It struck him forcibly 

 that the main point that Dr. Lindsay dwelt upon regarding the 

 deterioration of physique did not affect the matter so materially 

 as the lecturer seemed to think. He had spoken of Sir Thomas 

 Crawford's report. Well, that is not drawn from a sufficiently 

 extended source to prove anything as regarded a decrease or 

 increase of national physique. His impression was the same as 

 Dr. Lindsay's, that there is no decrease. We have had no 

 observations made which would warrant us in coming to a 

 conclusion on the matter. He could speak of fifty years ago 

 when he examined men for the Navy and Royal Marines, and 

 he could assure them that the men of the present day were 

 equal in physique to the men he then examined. He had often 

 examined young men of from sixteen to eighteen years of age 

 who measured thirty-one inches round the chest, and in a few 

 years, with good feeding and plenty of hard work, that was 

 increased to thirty-two and thirty-three inches round the chest. 

 He had seen many men thirty-four inches round the chest, 

 but they were comparatively rare. He thought the question of 

 notifying the proper authority when disease broke out was a 

 very important one ; but he was of opinion that the duty of 

 doing that should be thrown on the head of the household, and 

 not on the doctor. He hoped that would not be the last 

 lecture they would hear from Dr. Lindsay. 



Dr. Collier asserted fearlessly that the modern schoolboy 

 did not suffer from over-pressure. He condemned the system 

 of over-pressure, both as regards boys and girls, which was 

 carried on for the purpose of getting the boy to win distinctions. 



Mr. F. D. Ward, J. P., expressed his great admiration for the 

 very valuable lecture which they had just listened to. It would, 

 he was sure, produce very good results, especially amongst 

 those who had had the privilege of hearing it. He should like 



