REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE (Reprinted, with additional illustrations, by permission of the Council LONDON THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE 3 HANOVER SQUARE, W. 1909 Anthropometric Investigation in the British Isles.-Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor D. J. CUNNINGHAM (Chairman), Mr. J. GRAY (Secretary), Dr. A. C. HADDON, Dr. C. S. MYERS, Professors J. L. MYRES and A. F. DIXON, Mr. E. N. FALLAIZE, Sir EDWARD BRABROOK, Mr. G. L. GOMME, Dr. F. C. SHRUBSALL, Professor G. D. THANE, Dr. W. McDOUGALL, Professor M. E. SADLER, Major H. J. M. BUIST, Fleet-Surgeon G. T. COLLINGWOOD, and Dr. J. KERR.1 THE following Sub-Committees have submitted reports on particular branches of anthropometry :— 1. An Anatomical Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman, the Secretary, Dr. F. C. Shrubsall (Convener), Dr. T. H. Bryce, Professo. G. D. Thane, Dr. Waterston, Dr. W. L. H. Duckworth. 2. A Physiological Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman, the Secretary, Dr. W. McDougall (Convener), Dr. C. S. Myers, Dr. W. H. R. Rivers, Dr. W. D. Halliburton, Mr. A. F. Shand, Mr. W. H. Winch. 3. A Psychological Sub-Committee, consisting of the same members as the Physiological Sub-Committee. 4. A Sub-Committee on Environment, consisting of the Chairman, the Secretary, Sir Edward Brabrook (Convener), Dr. A. C. Haddon, Dr. Halliburton, Dr. McDougall, Dr. Shrubsall. 5. A Photographic Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman, the Secretary, Professor J. L. Myres (Convener), Dr. A. C. Haddon, Mr. G. L. Gomme, Dr. W. L. H. Duckworth, Mr. A. Abraham, Mr. H. S. Kingsford. 6. An Educational Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman, the Secretary, Mr. E. N. Fallaize (Convener), Professor M. E. Sadler, Mr. W. M. Heller, Mr. C. M. Stuart, Dr. F. C. Shrubsall, Dr. C. S. Myers, Dr. W. H. R. Rivers, Sir Edward Brabrook. 7. A Sub-Committee on Schedules, consisting of the Chairman, the Secretary, Dr. F. C. Shrubsall, Dr. J. Kerr. This may be regarded as the final Report of the Anthropometric Committee. The Committee commenced its work in 1902 by instituting a preliminary inquiry into the state of anthropometry in the British Isles. As a result of this inquiry it was made clear that the objects in view could best be attained by drawing up a uniform and consistent method of anthropometric investigation. The Committee has therefore devoted itself for several years to the elaboration of a standard scheme, and the results of its labours have from time to time been published in its annual reports. The present Report sums up the whole of the previous work of the Committee and embodies some additions and amendments that have been considered desirable. It consists of three previous reports re-edited, with the additional work accomplished during the present year. In one department the Committee considers that its scheme is still incomplete-namely, in the method which is suggested for the determination Reprinted, with additional illustrations, by permission of the Council, from Report, British Association (Dublin), 1908, pp. 351 ff. of psychological measurements. A considerable amount of excellent work has been done on this subject, and some tests made in schools promise that the method will be of great value; but the psychological sub-committee considers that further investigation, extending over several years, may be necessary before a thoroughly satisfactory method can be arrived at. Under the circumstances it has been decided to recommend that the present Committee should not be reappointed, but that a new Committee, entitled 'A Committee to promote the installation of anthropometry in schools and elsewhere, and to establish a system of measuring mental characters,' be appointed. In order to maintain continuity in the work it is recommended that the Chairman and Secretary of the present Committee should be on the new Committee, and that Sir Edward Brabrook, Dr. A. C. Haddon, Professor Arthur Thomson (Oxford), Dr. McDougall, Dr. Spearman (University College, London), and Miss Cooper (Delegacy for Training Secondary Teachers, St. John's, Oxford) should be appointed members. It is recommended that a grant of 51. should be made to the new Committee. THE OBJECTS OF ANTHROPOMETRY. The objects of anthropometry are in the first place to measure as exactly as possible the structure and activities of the human body, and in the second place to measure the factors of the environment with which changes in man's structure and activities are associated. The structure of man is ascertained by measuring a sufficient number of his anatomical or bodily dimensions, and his activities or functions by measuring such physiological characters as vision, hearing, smell and tactile sensibility, and such mental characters as are considered to be of the greatest importance in human life. As all these characters vary when subjected for a sufficiently long time to a changed environment it is important and essential to measure the principal factors of the environment of the men or groups of men we are studying. From the data obtained from such complete observations, correlations between man and his environment can be ascertained, and we can thus determine certain of the laws of human evolution, which is the ultimate object of anthropometry. The knowledge of these laws is of the highest importance to rulers, statesmen, and all authorities interested in social reform. Such questions, for example, as that of physical deterioration, which has recently been the subject of official inquiry in this country, can only be satisfactorily dealt with by establishing periodic anthropometry as a national institution. In addition to these practical applications the results of anthropometric investigation will be of the greatest value to science by enabling us to obtain a clearer conception of many problems of the greatest interest to the anthropologist. The general outline scheme of this Report is as follows: Anatomical dimensions Introduction. Terms defined. Standard list. Instruments to be employed. Hair and eye colours :- Pigmentation standards and meters. Eye colours. Tables of schemes of classification of hair colours and of eye colours. To obtain successful and uniform results it is absolutely necessary that the observer should have a clear perception of the anatomical points between and around which the measurements are made. Certain anatomical terms and surface markings must therefore in the first instance be defined and explained. For the purpose of obtaining as high a degree of exactitude as possible in this direction, the Committee have introduced into the Report a series of illustrations of the human body which have been prepared by the Chairman (Professor D. J. Cunningham) with the assistance of Dr. David Waterston. (Figs. 3-16.) ANATOMICAL TERMS DEFINED. Acromion. The sharp border of bone at the top of the outer aspect of the shoulder. It can be detected most easily by passing the finger from behind forwards over the upper and outer aspect of the shoulder and pressing somewhat deeply. It is from the outermost point of the acromion that measurements are taken. Anterior superior spine of the ilium.-A rounded projection or prominence which forms the anterior end of the iliac crest, or, in other words, of the curved upper border of the pelvic or haunch bone. As a rule the spine does not show with any degree of distinctness on the surface, and must be chiefly discovered by touch. To do this it is best to pass the finger from below upwards on the upper and outer aspect of the thigh until it is arrested by the bony prominence in question. lids. Canthi (outer and inner).-The angles of meeting of the two eye |