D. H. DE Souza 
499 
female pelvis IV are given by (p) and (q), but their results are amongst the worst 
for pelvis I. The table shows that the equations selected from a consideration of 
probable errors may be expected to give good results, that these formulae may be 
applied to the modern European female pelvis, and that they cannot be satis- 
factorily applied to the male pelvis. 
(4) The effects of moisture on the pelvic measurements. 
The formulae which we have obtained will give the obstetric conjugate and 
the transverse diameter for the dry pelvis. These will not necessarily be the same 
in the living subject for there the bones contain moisture and are covered by the 
soft tissues. For practical purposes it is required to know what effect these 
differences will have on the measurements. 
The effect of moisture was studied by soaking a dry pelvis in water and 
comparing its measurements in the dry state with those taken after it had been 
in water for some time. This was done with two ancient Egyptian female pelves 
lent by Dr Deny. The bones of the pelves were measured, then fitted together 
and kept in position by strong elastic bands, and the diameters measured with 
callipers. The pelvis was then taken to pieces and the bones immersed in water. 
After an interval they were taken out, held up to drip, and excess of water removed 
from them with a cloth. They were measured, fitted together again, and the 
diameters measured. This was repeated at several intervals. Finally they were 
taken out of the water and left in the air to dry for some days, and the bones and 
diameters were again measured. The results were unsatisfactory, as the following 
example, giving the measurements at different intervals, will show. 
TABLE VI. 
Pelvis I 
Dry 
In water 
In water 
In water 
In water 
In water 
After drying 
for 
14 days 
2 hours 
4 hours 
7 hours 
70 hours 
97 hours 
Inter-crests 
22-30 
22-52 
22-45 
22-39 
22-82 
23 '02* 
22-79 
Inter-spines 
19-81 
19-95 
19-99 
19-91 
20-23 
20-52 
20-23 
Transverse 
11-33 
11-30 
1 1 -23 
11-25 
11-24 
11-34 
11-14 
Diagonal conjugate 
11-18 
1 1 -30 
11-30 
11-23 
11-13 
11-28 
10-96 
Obstetric conjugate ... 
10-71 
10-70 
10-70 
10-69 
l 
? 
? 
Anteroposterior 
10-42 
10-25 
10-52 
10-28 
10-51 
10-35 
10-31 
Pubic height ... 
2-32 
2-30 
2-45 
2-47 
? 
1 
1 
Right hip — height 
17-40 
17-50 
17-47 
17-50 
17-50 
17-53* 
17-42 
„ „ breadth ... 
14-29 
14-20 
14-15 
14-17 
14-16 
14-15 
14-03 
Left hip — height 
„ „ breadth 
Sacrum — height 
17-60 
17-75 
17-60 
17-60 
17-60 
17-63* 
17-50 
14-02 
13-85 
13-85 
13-88 
13-83 
13-85 
13-60 
8-72 
8-88 
8-80 
8-86 
8-87 
8-87 
8-70 
., breadth 
10-30 
10-16 
10-17 
10-13 
10-13 
10-14 
10-07 
Obviously the changes in the measurements are small and therefore not easy 
to detect where there are opportunities for error as in this case. The initial 
* Both hip bones were cracked at the crest. 
