Experimental study of children : including anthropometrical and psycho-physical measurements of Washington school children, and a bibliography / by Arthur MacDonald.

  • MacDonald, Arthur, 1856-1936.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experimental study of children : including anthropometrical and psycho-physical measurements of Washington school children, and a bibliography / by Arthur MacDonald. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/338 (page 995)
    ANTHROPOMETRY AND ABNORMALITIES. There is doubtless in the early periods of life, up to adult age, a cer- tain relation of bodily organs to one another. A want of such relation may produce abnormalities, which in turn may give a lack of grace, symmetry, or beauty to the human body. If such a relation is to be generally established, so that we may know within certain limits what can be considered the proper bodily proportions, measurements of large numbers of children at different ages and stages of growth must be made Hence the only way to a definite knowledge as to the devel- opment of the human body will be through long and painstaking investigations. Thus the causes of homeliness, lack of beauty, deformi- ties, and the like may be more definitely ascertained. This in turn may help in their prevention. Such abnormalities affect not only beauty, but, what is more important, health. When abnormalities are discov- ered early in youth there is more opportunity of avoiding their evil effects. The relation of these body abnormalities to disease may prove of practical importance. Thus Hildebrand, an experienced investigator, remarks that delicate slender people are much more subject to typhoid fever than to consumption; another says of the same class that they are much more inclined to nervous troubles than other people. Another physician of large experience asserts that where chest and trunk remain undeveloped the head and extremities are much more developed. Bcneke in Marburg has shown that the relation between the size of the heart and the circumference of the arteries is gradually changed during the growth of the body, and that there is a consequent varia- tion in blood pressure. This is specially true at puberty, when the heart increases very fast in volume; for the arteries increase much in length with the increase of length of body, but their diameter is rela- tively little increased, so that much more work is required of the heart. Thus the growth in the length of body can be of the greatest importance to the development of the heart. Should this growth be irregular or abnormally fast, serious difficulties may arise, and Beneke has endeavored to show that herein lies the cause of the development of consumption at puberty. The importance, therefore, of determin- ing the normal rate of growth is evident. We have mentioned these general opinions of experienced physicians and specialists as an indication of the utility of the anthropometry of the future. The following is a measurement blank being used by the author in the study of children: No. . Name, ; date, ; school grade, ; name of observer, ; sex, ; date of birth, ; age in years and months, -———; color of hair, ; of eyes, ; of skin, ; first born, ; second born, ; later born, .