1910-11.] Bone Growth in absence of Functioning Testicles. 145 
Table XLVIII. 
Name of Bone. 
Length, 
mm. 
Corresponding 
Stature Range 
in normal 
Individuals. 
Range of normal 
Bone Lengths for 
Stature 1675. 
Minimum and Maxi- 
mum Percentages of 
Excess of Length of 
Bones of A 10. 
Humerus 
324 
1597*3-1701 
339*7-319 
- 4*8 . 
. -1*5 
Ulna . 
238 
1489*8-1585 
267*5-251*5 
-12*3 . 
. -5*6 
Radius 
222 
1487*4-1578*4 
250 -235*5 
-12*6 . 
. -6*9 
Femur . 
433 
1528*4-1697*3 
474*5-427*2 
- 9*5 . 
. -1*3 
Tibia . 
345 
1490*4-1656 
387*7-348*9 
-12*6 . 
. -IT 
Fibula . 
334 
1459*5-1609*8 
383*2-348*7 
-14*7 . 
. -4*4 
This table shows most clearly that the relative deficiency in the length 
of the limb bones is most marked in the bones which have the early closing 
epiphyses, whereas the least deficiency is shown in the bones which have 
the latest closing epiphyses, namely, the femur and humerus. 
This is exactly what is demanded by the hypothesis of the nature of 
the effect of functional removal of the testicles when growth is nearly 
complete. In cases of early removal, when all the epiphyses are open, 
the growth is greater in the more distal segments because of the greater 
absorptive power of the cells of the more distal cartilages, whereas in case 
of late removal growth is greatest centrally and least peripherally because 
of the order of closure of the late closing epiphyses. 
As is well known, each of the principal long bones has at least two 
epiphyses, one of which closes considerably earlier than the other. The early 
closing epiphyses are situated in the neighbourhood of osseously strong 
joints (elbow, hip, and ankle). These usually close soon after puberty. 
The late closing epiphyses are situated in the neighbourhood of muscular ly 
and ligamentously strong joints (shoulder, wrist, and knee). In the neigh- 
bourhood of the knee, the tibial epiphysis usually closes before the femoral ; 
in the arm, the wrist epiphyses of the radius and ulna usually close before 
the shoulder epiphyses of the humerus. 
In A 10 the functional failure of his testicles evidently occurred just 
before the last of his limb epiphyses (the proximal, humeral, and distal 
femoral) joined. Hence the reversal of his proportionate limb lengths. 
Further, as the central epiphyses of the pubis, the lateral epiphyses of the 
sacrum, the epiphyses of the vertebral border and inferior angle of the 
scapula, the epiphyses for the surface plates of the thoracic vertebral centra 
and for the heads of the ribs were all open, the growth that could take 
place was limited to them. Hence the peculiar shape of his pelvis and 
scapula and the unusual proportions of his vertebral column. 
VOL. XXXI. 
10 
