44 First Results from the Oxford Anthropometric Laboratory 
This test is that usually employed as a preliminary by oculists, in making an 
examination of a patient's eyesight. Short sight and astigmatism are detected by 
it but not distinguished from one another as different defects of vision ; long 
sight may pass unnoticed. 
I give a table in which the men tested are classed in four grades according to 
the sight of the right eye ; a similar table for the left eye would be practically the 
same, since the correlation between the two eyes is very high. 
4 or better 
4J and 6 
61—24 
24J or worse 
Totals 
Age 18 
Number 
52 
28 
30 
19 
129 
Percentage 
40 % 
22 7„ 
23 % 
16 7. 
Age 19 
Number 
113 
79 
70 
64 
326 
Percentage 
35 "/. 
24 7. 
21 7. 
20 7. 
Age 20 
Number 
87 
50 
39 
32 
208 
Percentage 
42 7. 
24 7„ 
19 7. 
1«7. 
Age 21 
Number 
50 
37 
34 
12 
133 
Percentage 
38 7„ 
28 7„ 
26 7„ 
9% 
Age 22 
Number 
37 
19 
20 
19 
95 
Percentage 
39 7„ 
20 7„ 
21 7. 
20 7 C 
Average percentages 
39 7„ 
24 7„ 
22 7„ 
18% . 
This table shows that about a quarter of the whole number have eyesight of 
what oculists consider to be of the normal keenness, while the remainder are 
almost equally distributed above and below. Of those below the normal 18 °/ 0 
have distinctly bad eyesight. The fact that this test is made is of advantage to 
some, at any rate, of the men who come to the laboratory, for many of those with 
faulty vision are quite unaware of it till it is thus pointed out, although possibly 
suffering considerable inconvenience therefrom. The visit to an oculist which is 
recommended may in consequence conduce to their greater comfort and to the 
preservation of their sight. 
(3) Measurements of Physical Development. 
Lung Capacity is measured by means of a spirometer. This instrument was 
copied with slight modifications from that used by Sir Francis Galton in his 
anthropometric laboratory. It consists of an outer cylinder filled with water, in 
which there rests an inverted inner cylinder. The subject is asked to take a deep 
breath and then to blow down a flexible tube which is connected in such a way 
with the inner cylinder that all the air passes into the latter. The inner cylinder 
is counterpoised so that the air passing into it causes it to rise, the amount of the 
rise being proportional to the volume of the air. A pointer is attached to its top, 
which as the cylinder rises passes up a vertical scale divided into millimetres. 
The diameter of the cylinder was so arranged that a rise of one mm. corresponds 
with entrance of 20 c.c. of air. The measurement of volume in this way is not 
quite accurate, as it is not possible without somewhat elaborate arrangements to 
