REPORT ON THE BONES OF THE HUMAN SKELETON. 
71 
index in the female was 104'7. The mean index of the individual vertebrae ranged from 
115‘1 in the 1st lumbar to 92’4 in the 5th. 
In one of three Hindoo skeletons, the tall male presented by Dr. John Anderson, 
the vertical diameter of the series of five lumbar bodies was 137 mm. anteriorly, and 
146 mm. posteriorly. The 1st, 2nd, and 5th lumbars were deeper behind than in front, 
the 3rd was 1 mm. deeper in front than behind, and in the 4th these two diameters were 
equal. The general lumbar index was 106, and the index of the 4tli lumbar vertebra was 
107. In the two other Hindoo skeletons, a male and a female, the vertical diameter of 
the bodies of the five lumbars was somewhat deeper in front than behind, and the mean 
lumbar index was 97'3. In each of these skeletons the vertical diameter of the 5th lumbar 
vertebra was deeper in front than behind, and the mean index was 89. In the skeleton 
of a male Sikh, the vertical diameter of the five lumbar bodies was 130 mm. anteriorly 
and 133 mm. posteriorly, being a difference of 3 mm. in favour of the posterior diameter. 
In this skeleton the 1st and 5th lumbar bodies were deeper behind than in front, but 
the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th were each of equal diameter on both aspects. The lumbar index 
was 102, and the index of the 5th lumbar vertebra was 108 ’7. 
In a Chinese skeleton the vertical diameter of the five lumbar bodies was 145 mm. 
anteriorly, and 123 mm. posteriorly. In each vertebra, except the 1st, the vertical 
diameter was deeper in front than behind, and in the 1st the two diameters were equal. 
The general lumbar index was 8 4 '8, and the index of the 5th lumbar vertebra was 70. 
In a male Malay skeleton, the vertical diameter of the five lumbar bodies was 127 mm. 
anteriorly, and 125 mm. posteriorly. In the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd the posterior diameter 
was deeper than the anterior; in the 4th and 5th the anterior diameter was deeper than 
the posterior. The general lumbar index was 98, and the index of the 5th lumbar 
vertebra was 77 '7. 
In a female Esquimaux the vertical diameter of the series of five lumbar bodies was 
the same in front and behind (127 mm.), so that the general lumbar index was 100. In 
a male skeleton the vertical diameter of the bodies anteriorly was 120 mm., and 
posteriorly 116 mm., and the general lumbar index was 96 '6. Both in the female and 
male the 1st and 2nd lumbars were deeper behind than in front, but the 4th and 5th 
lumbars were deeper in front than behind. The index of the 5th lumbar vertebra in the 
female was 81, and in the male 71. In a male Laplander the vertical diameter of the 
five lumbar vertebrae was 111 mm. anteriorly and 110 mm. posteriorly, and the general 
lumbar index was 99. In a female Laplander the vertical diameter was anteriorly 121 
mm., and posteriorly 118 mm. and the general lumbar index was 97 '5. In both skeletons, 
whilst the 1st lumbar vertebra was deeper behind than in front, both the 4th and 5th 
lumbar were deeper in front than behind. The index of the 5th lumbar in the male 
was 86, and in the female 88. 
From the observations which have been made both by Dr. Cunningham and mysell, 
