16 
tr 
No. XII. -PHYSICAL POWERS. 
By Dr. BEDDOE, E.R.S. 
Strength, speed, endurance. 
It is difficult to institute comparative tests of strength 
for Europeans or civilized men and savages or barbarians. 
“Knack” and custom or constant practice have so great an 
influence, that it is necessary to select as a test some action 
not habitually used by either party. The persons tested 
should be in the prime of life, and otherwise similarly cir¬ 
cumstanced. 
In countries where the women do most or much of the 
hard labour, their strength should be tested as well as that of 
the males: with a view to comparison, all trials should be 
timed, and the weights and distances carefully measured, and 
the previous condition or training of the individuals recorded. 
M. Broca commends the traction-dvnamometer of Mathieu. 
kj 
The force registered should be that put forth continuously 
during at least two seconds. The maximum got by a sudden 
jerk may, however, also be noted. 
u Putting ” or raising a heavy stone is a pretty good test. 
Trials of speed should not be confined to short races. The 
American Indians in general, e. g., are said to have more 
enduring speed than Europeans, though easily beaten by them 
in sudden bursts: with some other savages the case is re¬ 
versed. 
1. What is the weight of the burden which a native will 
carry P 2. How far will he carry it in one day ? 3. For how 
many days in succession without suffering thereby P 4. What 
distance can a man walk in one day P 5. What distance can 
he ride in one day ? 6. What distance can he run in one day P 
7. In what time can he run an English mile of 1760 yards, or 
2112 paces of 30 inches, on a level road or grass ? 8. In what 
time can he walk ten or twenty miles on a fairly level road or 
grass ? 9. In all trials of speed or endurance the temperature 
and the manner in which the individual is shod and clothed 
should be recorded, as also a general description of the ground 
traversed. 10. What weight can a man raise one foot from 
the ground, the handle being properly adjusted ? 11. How 
long can he abstain from food or drink, without inconvenience, 
when in exercise ? 12. Ditto when not in exercise ? 
