Measurement of Surface Area of Adults. 



17 



mined, gave factors which varied but little in the five cases 

 measured. The total surface area of the body can be estimated 

 by multiplying the length, breadth and the proper constant for 

 each part of the body and then adding the parts together. This 

 new formula gave the following errors in the five cases measured : 

 Small fat cretin +0.5 per cent.; short, stout man +1-3 per cent.; 

 tall, thin man —3.8 percent.; tall man of average build +0.9 per 

 cent.; short, very fat woman +2.0 per cent. 



Meeh's formula applied to these same individuals gave errors 

 amounting to +21 per cent., +17 per cent., +7 per cent., +14 

 per cent, and +36 per cent, respectively. Bouchard 1 who 

 measured a series of adults found the following errors in Meeh's 

 formula: very thin woman —3 per cent., normal man +2 per 

 cent., normal woman +14 per cent., large man +12 per cent., 

 very fat man +33 per cent. 



There seems to be a plus error in Meeh's formula which 

 becomes very large in the case of fat individuals. Since Meeh's 

 formula has been the standard for 35 years it is advisable for the 

 present to retain it in the case of individuals who are thin or of 

 approximately the normal build, since, in their case, the error is 

 not great. In the case of fat people or those of unusual body 

 shape it is preferable to make use of the proposed formula which 

 is determined by linear measurement alone. 



Constants and Measurements Used in Formula. 



Head, AB, 0.308. 



A, around vertex and chin. 



B, around occiput and forehead, just above eyebrows. 

 Arms, F(G + H+ I), 0.558. 



F, outer end of clavicle to lower border of radius. 



G, circumference of arm at level of upper border of axilla. 



H, largest circumference of forearm. 

 /, smallest circumference of wrist. 

 Hands, JK, 2.22. 



J, lower posterior border of radius to tip of second finger. 

 K, circumference of open hand at knuckles. 

 Trunk, L(M + N), 0.703. 



1 Bouchard, "Traite de Pathologie generate, " Paris, 1900, III, 200, 384. 



