PART I.. Build, Its Definition and Its Ontogeny.

BUILD, ITS DEFINITION AND ITS ONTOGENY.

A. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.

If a hundred men of about the same stature be compared, it is seen that they vary greatly in weight. At the same time they vary in form, and especially in bulk. This variation is popularly recognized by the variety of terms applied to build. It may be of interest to pause a moment to consider popular terminology relating to build. We have, first, terms expressing a marked deviation below the normal build. We speak of persons as “slender,” “thin,” “gaunt,” “slim,” “slight,” “spare,” “lank,” and “spindling.” These terms are not exactly synonyms. “Lank” implies angularity; “gaunt” connotes the ravage of disease; “thin” connotes a loss of weight; “slight” connotes lightness and smallness of bone; “spindling” is used especially of youth in the period of rapid growth preceding adolescence; “slim” has a faint connotation of insufficiency; “slender” best expresses the idea which we shall want to use in this work where we have a relatively small interest in stature and where we wish to avoid connotation of disease, developmental changes, etc. In other languages there exists a series of terms which similarly differ slightly in connotation. Thus, in French, there is “maigre,” in German “mager,” which often connote a loss of weight through disease, “dünn,” which connotes loss of a former more nearly average weight, and “schlank,” which is close to the English “slender.” On the other hand, the English language contains a variety of terms applicable to deviation in build above the average. Thus we have the words “stout,” “portly,” “fleshy,” “corpulent,” “thick-set,” “obese,” “chubby,” and “fat.” The word “stout” usually carries a connotation of vigor. The term “portly” connotes large size with a tendency to excessively great circumference. “Fleshy” is nearly synonymous with “portly” but has less connotation of majesty of size. “Corpulent” usually carries a connotation of abdominal enlargement. “Thick-set” implies a large bony frame. “Obese” frequently connotes excessive, strictly pathological, increase of build. “Chubby” is applied especially to infants. “Fat” connotes excessive production of fat in the body, as opposed to an unusually large muscular development. Perhaps of all of these terms “fleshy” is as satisfactory as any as an expression for build without connotation in respect to degree or source of great weight, whether due to fat, muscle, or bone. In the German language there are the terms, “plump,” and “schwerfällig,” which serve to express large build. In the French language there are the terms, “gros,” “obese,” and “embonpoint,” which is near to the English equivalent “stout” or “fleshy.” In the present work the term “fleshy” is used, despite its slight suggestion of muscular development merely, largely because it begins with a different letter from slender. The word “slender” will be used for the other extreme of build. It has been found convenient to indicate those terms by their initial letters “S” and “F” respectively.

Our main problem is, in how far does this difference in build between slender and fleshy persons depend on constitutional factors?

TYPES OF VARIATION IN BUILD.

Two types of variation in build have to be distinguished: (a) the ontogenetic change in normal build during development with increasing stature, and (b) the change in weight in adults of relatively invariable stature. In type a, stature and other proportions are rapidly changing, but in type b, stature remains constant, and, throughout the race, stature does not differ as much in mature persons as it does from birth to maturity. These two types follow different laws and must be studied by different methods. Consequently they are considered in distinct parts of the present paper.

THE MEASUREMENT OF BUILD.

It is now necessary to consider how build may best be expressed quantitatively. The subject of the best index of build has been much discussed, but without sufficiently differentiating between the two types of variation in build, the ontogenetic and the adult. One of the latest authors to consider the matter is Bardeen (1920, p. 486), who mentions the desirability of recording the volume of the body as a whole, notes its impracticability, and concludes that we may estimate volume from weight. It may, however, be doubted if volume is really involved in the popular notion of build. At least, it is equally probable that the idea of build, as popularly conceived, is a relation of transverse to vertical diameters. When I look at a man, or a photograph of one as in plate 1, and think, “he is slender,” it is because I make a mental comparison of his breadth (of shoulders or chest) with his height and find that his breadth in comparison with that of most men I know of that height is small; or if he is stout the diameter of the chest is large in relation to stature (plate 2). It seems probable that breadth in relation to height gives the best expression of the popular idea of build. By the use of this relation, build can be easily expressed for any age, since chest circumference (which bears a nearly constant relation to chest diameter) has been recorded for many persons of all ages.

Ontogenetic.—Since in so many children and young people the stature and chest circumference have been measured, it is possible to use these data in finding the law of normal ontogenetic changes in build from birth to maturity. This ratio, chest-girth ÷ stature, has thus been used in discussing this law, as more fully described in section B. This relation can be used for tracing the change in build of the same developing child or for tracing the average change of build.

Adult.—In the study of adult changes of build we start with the condition that in the individual the stature is fixed. Consequently, in an individual whose weight is changing, the relation of the build at a years is to that at another period n years later as chest-girth at a years : chest-girth at a + n years. Thus, in the adult period, changes of build are proportional to chest-girth. In different persons, of differing stature, the stature has to be taken into account, and the differences in build are measured by the relation of relative chest-girth as in children. Unfortunately, in our study of heredity in adult build, we usually do not know the chest-girth of the different members of the family, but only their stature and weight. Our problem is, then, to find a relation between chest-girth and weight that will enable us to infer the one from the other. This problem will be further considered in a later section (p. 24).

SEXUAL DIFFERENCES IN BUILD.

Sex influences the body so profoundly that we have, first of all, to consider its influence on build, either in early or in adult stages. At birth there is, on the average, a difference between the sexes in weight. The male is about 2.5 per cent heavier than the female (3,310 : 3,230 grams in German children, Daffner, 1902, p. 125, quoting Hecker; 3,606 : 3,485 grams in American children, Benedict and Talbot, 1915). But this does not imply that the boy baby is the chubbier, since the boy baby is longer by about 1.7 per cent than the girl baby. There is no obvious difference in the chubbiness of the sexes at birth. Likewise, in later infancy no obvious difference has been detected, though no thoroughgoing studies have been made on this subject. In childhood and youth children of different sex differ in build on the average, but this is because the form of the ontogenetic curve of build is very different. After maturity and cessation of growth, there is a marked difference in form between the sexes. The female has more subcutaneous fat and appears plumper. If the criterion of weight be applied, the complication arises that the specific gravity of the female seems to be less than that of the male (Bardeen, 1920, p. 488, following Meeh, 1895). As found by Medico-Actuarial Mortality investigations of the Associated Life Insurance Medical Directors of the Actuarial Society of America, 1912, volume I, p. 251: “The difference in weight between men and women of the same height is slight under the age of 20, but above that age young men are distinctly heavier than young women, the difference becoming less marked as they grow older. The tall women are markedly lighter than men of the same height.” The main reason for the greater weight of young men is their relatively much greater chest circumference.

TABLE 1.—The distribution of frequencies of the various classes of build of offspring derived from the various types of matings.

SUMMATION TABLE, MALES ONLY. BASED ON TABLE 11.

+-------+----------+-----------+-----------------------------+---------+ | | | | Build of male offspring. | Total | |Type of| No. of | No. of +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ No. | |mating.| matings. | children. | | | | | |male and | | | | | VS | S | M | F | VF | female | | | | | | | | | |children.| +-------+----------+-----------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+ | VS×S | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | | VS×M | 8 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 28 | | VS×F | 5 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 25 | | S×S | 23 | 29 | 1 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 47 | | S×M | 101 | 172 | 0 | 12 | 116 | 38 | 6 | 306 | | S×F | 49 | 88 | 1 | 5 | 51 | 30 | 1 | 155 | | S×VF | 11 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 34 | | M×M | 92 | 178 | 0 | 18 | 117 | 40 | 3 | 327 | | M×F | 114 | 194 | 0 | 9 | 118 | 58 | 9 | 340 | | M×VF | 30 | 59 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 10 | 112 | | F×F | 33 | 77 | 3 | 30 | 34 | 6 | 4 | 156 | | F×VF | 30 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 28 | 7 | 100 | | VF×VF | 7 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 30 | | +----------+-----------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+ | Total | 507 | 926 | 7 | 106 | 515 | 246 | 52 | 1,671 | +-------+----------+-----------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+ | Average build |25.00|29.03|33.64|39.15|49.09| | +------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+---------+

Average male index of build, 35.81 ± .12. Standard deviation, 5.33 ± .084.

TABLE 2.—The distribution of frequencies of the various classes of build of offspring derived from the various types of matings.

SUMMATION TABLE, FEMALES ONLY. BASED ON TABLE 11A.

+-------+----------+-----------+-----------------------------+ | | | | Build of female offspring. | |Type of| No. of | No. of +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |mating.| matings. | children. | | | | | | | | | | VS | S | M | F | VF | | | | | | | | | | +-------+----------+-----------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | VS×S | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | VS×M | 8 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | | VS×F | 5 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | | S×S | 23 | 18 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | | S×M | 101 | 134 | 0 | 36 | 78 | 15 | 5 | | S×F | 49 | 67 | 2 | 16 | 29 | 19 | 1 | | S×VF | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | M×M | 92 | 149 | 2 | 21 | 81 | 41 | 4 | | M×F | 114 | 146 | 0 | 19 | 90 | 30 | 7 | | M×VF | 30 | 53 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 12 | 7 | | F×F | 33 | 79 | 0 | 12 | 30 | 27 | 10 | | F×VF | 30 | 43 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 14 | 10 | | VF×VF | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | +----------+-----------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | Total | 507 | 745 | 12 | 136 | 384 | 167 | 46 | +-------+----------+-----------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ | Average build |24.17|28.69|33.41|39.23|46.76| +------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

Average female index of build, 34.54 ± .13. Standard deviation, 5.13 ± .09.

Proceeding by a method to be developed later, I have divided adult build into five classes, and counted for the various matings the number of children falling into each. (See tables 1 and 2.) The average index of build, obtained from the individual indices of build, is 2.52 (metric system) or 35.81 ± 0.12 (English system) for males, and 2.43 (34.54 ± 0.13) for females, a difference of only 3.7 per cent in favor of the males, a difference that for our purposes can be neglected. A separation of the sexes in our studies will therefore be, ordinarily, not attempted, and this has the advantage in giving us larger frequencies in our tables.

RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN BUILD.

That there are marked racial differences in build is notorious. The slender Scotchman (plate 1, fig. 3) is in striking contrast with the South Italian, Greek, or Russian Jew (plate 2, fig. 3). The Eskimo are noted for their fleshiness, but Arctic conditions seem to favor large build. (See Davenport and Love, 1921, p. 165.) Martin (1914, p. 248) gives an average body-build of 1.42 (2.3 our system) for South Russian Jews and 1.07 (1.7 our system) for Bushmen. Probably the Nilotic negroes are the slenderest race on earth (Martin, 191, p. 254; for photograph see Martin, p. 263, or Davenport, 1917, p. 347). The racial differences in body-build are so great that, when feasible, race should be taken into account in studies on body-build.

GEOGRAPHICAL DIFFERENCES IN BUILD.

Apart from race, it seems probable that climate influences build. The races that live in the north polar region are of stout build, but this may be a racial trait. On the other hand, the whites who come to live near the pole are heavier than those who live near the equator. This may be due to relative freedom in the subpolar area from certain diseases which reduce weight. There may, however, be a physiological response of the body to the long, cold winters. Whatever the explanation, men from Alaska were found, at mobilization of the United States Army in 1917-18, to have a much higher index of build than those from any other region, i. e., 2.28 (32.41); North Dakota and South Dakota came next, with indices of 2.24 (31.85) and 2.23 (31.73) respectively. These were followed by Montana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Contrariwise, the recruits from the Gulf States had a low index of build. Whatever the determining causes, geographical differences in build do exist. Consequently, in studies of build, it is desirable to consider the residences of the persons studied.

The method of measuring build is discussed at page 24. The smaller index (usually lying between 1.5 and 4.5) is the metric index. The larger index (20 up to 100) is the English system index, and is usually expressed without decimals.

B. THE ONTOGENY OF BUILD.

From the time of fertilization of the egg it proceeds on its course of development directed by its “hereditary factors,” but modifiable by the conditions offered by the environment. Thus is determined the weight of the baby at birth, and thus the build of the later stages to maturity are directed. It has seemed useful to measure the changes in build from birth to maturity, using the method of measuring build during development described in an earlier section (p. 4).

MATERIALS AND METHODS.

The materials available for such a study are considerable and may be drawn from a large number of different nationalities. A selection had to be made from this material; there were chosen the best available series from those nationalities most representative of the population of the United States, considering the diversity of its European origin. Two sets of data were utilized: first, collections of measurements made on males from 1 year to 21 years; second, some collections from children of both sexes from birth to 1 year of age.

The first collection of data is gathered from nine sources, listed below. The data used are given in detail in table 3, which shows the number of individuals measured by each observer at each age, the average relative chest-girth at that age, and the average, for each age, of the different averages of the relative chest-girths formed by each observer. These averages are not weighted, since the racial stocks measured by the different observers differed. The average of each observer has therefore to be considered as a unit of nearly equal value with that of any other (table 3).

1. Quetelet (1870) data. As Quetelet’s original book was not available, the data reprinted in Bardeen (1920, p. 544) were used. Quetelet measured 10 persons at each age from 1 to 20 years (and older). He selected his subjects with good judgment and the resulting curve of varying build is remarkably smooth. The subjects were doubtless Belgians.

2. Weissenberg (1911) data. These were gathered by observations on South Russian Jews. The numbers observed ranged from 15 males at birth to about 40 to 100 at later ages. This series is of especial value because such large numbers of individuals of each age were measured and because in it are considered only children as near as possible to their birthdays; that is, as 2 or 3 year old children were taken those of exactly 2 or 3 years ± 2 months; as 4, 5, and 6 year olds, 4, 5, and 6 years ± 3 months; as 7 and 8 years, 7 or 8 years ± 4 months. For older children the even year ± 5 months was taken. The measurement was taken at the line of the nipples and below the lower apex of the scapulæ; chest apparently at rest.

3. Benedict and Talbot (1920) data. These were gathered from healthy children of Boston, Massachusetts. Girth was taken at the nipples, in a quiescent condition. The number of individuals considered at each age is small (1 to 9), but the data are precious, because so few have been published for the period 2 to 5 years.

4. Masters Day Nursery data. Original, from measurements made upon healthy children in New York City. The chest was measured at the line of the nipples in a quiescent condition. The numbers are small, 2 per year.

5. Town (1922) data. A special study of 5 and 6 year old children of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There were 31 and 11 children respectively.

6. Reitz (1904) data. A study of school children of Berlin, Germany. Chest-girth measured “at rest.” From 23 to 209 at the respective ages from 6 to 19 years, inclusive.

7. Baldwin (1921) data. A group of 60 boys of the well-to-do class at the Horace Mann School, New York City, were measured repeatedly in successive years from 7 to 17 years of age inclusive. Chest at “normal” condition.

8. Godin (1903) data. Measurements taken annually on the same 100 boys in a French military school at St. Hippolyte-du-Fort, Gard. Chest-girth below pectoralis in repose. Ages 13½ to 17 years inclusive.

9. Hitchcock, Seeley, and Phillips (1900) data. Measurements made on about 40 to 600 students at Amherst College at each age from 16 to 26 years inclusive. The chest-girth is made at the level of the nipples and embraces the scapulæ.

TABLE 3.—Average relative chest-girth (chest girth + stature) at different ages from birth to maturity, males.

+--------+------------+---------------+-----------+-----------+--------+ | |1. Quetelet.|2. Weissenberg.|3. Benedict|4. Masters |5. Town.| | | | |and Talbot.| Day | | | Time. | | | | Nursery. | | | +-----+------+------+--------+-----+-----+----+------+---+----+ | | No. | Avg. | No. | Avg. | No. | Avg.| No.| Avg. |No.|Avg.| +--------+-----+------+------+--------+-----+-----+----+------+---+----+ | Birth | 10 | 5900 | | 5511 | 3 | 6600| | | | | | 1 year | 10 | 6300 | | | 3 | 6300| | | | | | 2 years| 10 | 5850 | 38 | 6005 | 6 | 6060| | | | | | 3 years| 10 | 5600 | 38 | 5803 | 1 | 5760| | | | | | 4 years| 10 | 5430 | 38 | 5567 | 2 | 5600| | | | | | 5 years| 10 | 5300 | 55 | 5353 | 4 | 5340| 2 | 5263 | 31|5082| | 6 years| 10 | 5200 | 55 | 5208 | 4 | 5040| 2 | 5136 | 11|4990| | 7 years| 10 | 5110 | 81 | 5058 | 7 | 5190| 2 | 5072 | | | | 8 years| 10 | 5040 | 95 | 5030 | 7 | 5100| | | | | | 9 years| 10 | 4990 | 112 | 5016 | 7 | 5060| | | | | |10 years| 10 | 4950 | 132 | 4952 | 5 | 5150| | | | | |11 years| 10 | 4920 | 117 | 4911 | 9 | 4950| | | | | |12 years| 10 | 4910 | 103 | 4780 | 6 | 4810| | | | | |13 years| 10 | 4900 | 115 | 4850 | | | | | | | |14 years| 10 | 4900 | 109 | 4866 | | | | | | | |15 years| 10 | 4910 | 102 | 4923 | | | | | | | |16 years| 10 | 4930 | 103 | 4888 | | | | | | | |17 years| 10 | 4970 | 108 | 4929 | | | | | | | |18 years| 10 | 5040 | 115 | 5046 | | | | | | | |19 years| 10 | 5110 | 116 | 5076 | | | | | | | |20 years| 10 | 5180 | 129 | 5040 | | | | | | | |21 years| | | | | | | | | | | |25 years| | 5250 | | | | | | | | | +--------+-----+------+------+--------+-----+-----+----+------+---+----+

+--------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------+----------+ | |6. Reitz.|7. Baldwin.|8. Godin.|9. Hitchcock.| | | | | | | | | | Time. | | | | |Unweighted| | +----+----+-----+-----+---+-----+------+------+ averages.| | | No.|Avg.| No. | Avg.|No.|Avg. | No. | Avg. | | +--------+----+----+-----+-----+---+-----+------+------+----------+ | Birth | | | | | | | | | 6004 | | 1 year | | | | | | | | | 6300 | | 2 years| | | | | | | | | 5972 | | 3 years| | | | | | | | | 5721 | | 4 years| | | | | | | | | 5532 | | 5 years| | | | | | | | | 5268 | | 6 years| | | | | | | | | 5115 | | 7 years| | | 60 | 4852| | | | | 5056 | | 8 years| | | 60 | 4821| | | | | 4998 | | 9 years| 168|4573| 60 | 4805| | | | | 4889 | |10 years| 181|4569| 60 | 4793| | | | | 4883 | |11 years| 209|4595| 60 | 4740| | | | | 4823 | |12 years| 189|4546| 60 | 4731| | | | | 4755 | |13 years| 143|4542| 60 | 4762|100| 4966| | | 4804 | |14 years| 158|4506| 60 | 4745|100| 5071| | | 4818 | |15 years| 140|4550| 60 | 4813|100| 5166| | | 4872 | |16 years| 117|4626| 60 | 4870|100| 5295| 40 | 5000 | 4935 | |17 years| 70|4598| 60 | 4974|100| 5296| 250 | 4968 | 4956 | |18 years| 40|4684| | | | | 600 | 5003 | 4943 | |19 years| 23|4833| | | | | 600 | 5089 | 5027 | |20 years| | | | | | | 600 | 5136 | 5119 | |21 years| | | | | | | 600 | 5205 | 5205 | |25 years| | | | | | | | 5291 | 5271 | +--------+----+----+-----+-----+---+-----+------+------+----------+

Owing to the complex nature of the curve of build during the first year of development, special collections of data were made for this portion of the curve (table 4). They are listed as follows:

1. Original data contributed by Dr. Bret Ratner, pediatrician, of New York, being measurements made in May and June, 1922, of weight, length, and chest circumference on 11 babies at the Manhattan Maternity Hospital during each of the first 10 days after birth. There were 9 boys and 2 girls. Judging alone by the surnames, there were apparently of British stock 6, of German stock 2, of Italian stock 2, and of Spanish stock 1. It is very difficult to measure length and chest-girth of infants. Length “on birthday” was generally taken with the child suspended by its feet, chest-girth with the chest as quiet as possible. The first measurement was taken as soon as the baby was born, and each morning thereafter at 8ʰ30ᵐ a.m. The later lengths were measured on a graduated board.

2. New York Milk Station data collected by Miss Louise A. Nelson and Miss Margaret R. Babcock, of the Eugenics Record Office staff. They were made during May and June 1922, on healthy babies, without clothing. The length was measured with the aid of a graduated board. Boys and girls were both included, as at this age their build is not very different, on the average. The numbers ranged from 4 to 52 for the various months from 0.5 month to 13 months by 0.5-month intervals.

3. Ratner advanced data. Original data secured by Dr. Bret Ratner (at Manhattan Maternity Hospital, New York City, on healthy children whose parents brought them repeatedly to the hospital) and kindly given to the writer for this study. In this series, observations are especially abundant at 1, 1.5, and 2 months (47, 170, and 30 cases respectively).

4. Grover (1915) data. Boys only among out-patients of the Children’s Hospital, Boston, and visitors at milk stations. No clothing. Chest measured at level of nipples, midway between inspiration and expiration. Length measured on graduated board. From 2 to 5 at each month of age.

5. Benedict and Talbot (1920) data. (See No. 3, p. 9.) One to 6 individuals at the various months.

6. Schmid-Monnard (1892) data. Copied from Bardeen (1920, page 542). Boys and girls measured at Frankfort am Main, Germany. 8 to 67 in respective months. Ages 1 to 13 months and up to 30 months.

7. Crum (1915) data. Average measurements of babies without regard to sex, 193 to 264 per month, mostly baby-show babies and hence strongly selected. Various parts of the United States.

From the foregoing collections of data, tables 3, 4, and 5 were drawn up, giving for each age the mean relative chest-girth found by each observer. Also, the number of individuals upon which the measurement is based, necessary for weighting the mean. The mean of all measurements was weighted in table 4, but not in table 3 for the reasons stated on page 8.

TABLE 4.—Average relative chest-girth of infants from birth to 13 months.

+----------+----------+----------+----------+ | | | 2. N. Y. | | | |3. Ratner.| Milk |4. Grover.| | Time. | |(♂ and ♀.)| | | +----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+ | | No.| Avg.| No.| Avg.| No.| Avg.| +----------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+ |2 weeks | 32| 6641| 4 | 6533| | | |1 month | 47| 6602| 26 | 6504| 2 | 5861| |1.5 months| 170| 6772| 36 | 6639| | | |2 months | 30| 6670| 52 | 6623| 4 | 6661| |3 months | 11| 6700| 49 | 6566| 3 | 6220| |4 months | 12| 6542| 39 | 6542| 3 | 6157| |5 months | 10| 6492| 26 | 6522| 3 | 6278| |6 months | 8| 6500| 39 | 6542| 5 | 6278| |7 months | 10| 6720| 27 | 6424| 3 | 6203| |8 months | 3| 6267| 23 | 6317| 4 | 6464| |9 months | 3| 6550| 26 | 6364| 3 | 6060| |10 months | 2| 6200| 18 | 6431| 2 | 6237| |11 months | 1| 6600| 13 | 6354| 2 | 5868| |12 months | 1| 5800| 8 | 6271| 1 | 5691| |13 months | | | 11 | 6186| | | +----------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+

+----------+-----------+----------+----------+-----+ | | |6. Schmid | | | | |5. Benedict| and | 7. Crum. | | | Time. |and Talbot.| Monnard. | |Aver.| | +----+------+----+-----+----+-----+ | | | No.| Avg. | No.| Avg.| No.| Avg.| | +----------+----+------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+ |2 weeks | 3 | 6599 | | | | | 6627| |1 month | 2 | 6249 | 67 | 6280| | | 6419| |1.5 months| 4 | 6574 | | | | | 6745| |2 months | 3 | 6765 | 44 | 6470| | | 6512| |3 months | 4 | 6529 | 37 | 6040| | | 6382| |4 months | 4 | 6304 | 30 | 6510| | | 6507| |5 months | 3 | 6455 | 37 | 6230| | | 6368| |6 months | 6 | 6117 | 27 | 6540| 259| 6556| 6540| |7 months | 3 | 6500 | 19 | 6240| 256| 6468| 6456| |8 months | 1 | 6308 | 16 | 6400| 232| 6470| 6450| |9 months | 4 | 6352 | 29 | 6160| 211| 6355| 6333| |10 months | 2 | 6110 | 17 | 6400| 209| 6404| 6400| |11 months | 1 | 6174 | 15 | 6120| 193| 6336| 6318| |12 months | 1 | 6383 | 22 | 6090| 289| 6298| 6280| |13 months | 1 | 6026 | 19 | 6080| 264| 6235| 6222| +----------+-----------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+

It will be observed that the means of build differ, for the constant age, more than do the differences between successive ages. That is to say, the absolute difference between races at any given age is greater than the average differences between one year and the next.

The mean relative chest circumferences for the different ages are plotted in figure 2.

THE ONTOGENETIC CURVE OF BUILD.

The resulting curve of build from birth to maturity is given in figure 1. This curve shows that build in males is greatest at birth, or at about 1 month, and that it then steadily diminishes to 12 years of age. It then slowly increases to maturity, and indeed to 30 years, after which it increases with extreme slowness, probably to 55 years.

Abscissæ: Age in years. Ordinates (chest ÷ girth/stature) × 1000. Based on averages of the measurements of Quetelet (Belgians), Weissenberg (Russian Jews), Benedict and Talbot (U.S.A.), Masters Day Nursery, N. Y. City, Town (Iowa children), Gray and Jacobs (school boys, well-to-do), Reitz (Germans), Godin (French), Hitchcock (U.S.A. college men), Baldwin (N. Y. City schools).]

From table 4A and the curve of build, figure 2, we see that the infant at birth has a chest-girth which is somewhat over two-thirds of stature (0.6685). It falls rapidly to one month after birth, and then begins to rise. This minimum is connected with the loss of weight which follows birth, and is due to the difficulty of making adjustments to the new conditions which the organism has to meet. This adjustment is soon thereafter completed and within 2 months chest-girth and weight are not only recovered, but have caught up with increasing length of body. At 6 weeks the body has reached its maximum post-natal chubbiness. Another temporary loss in chubbiness occurs at about 8 months, due perhaps to the cutting of the incisors. The decline which subsequently ensues is prevailingly due to the rapid growth of the legs without corresponding increase in transverse diameter (plates 3 and 4). At about 12 years the boy enters the awkward age when, his legs and arms having grown from 5 to 10 cm. in a single year, he has not yet acquired muscular control of them (plate 7, fig. 2). At the same time his trunk retains childish proportions (plate 5, fig. 12). A little earlier than the boy, the girl enters the “Backfisch” stage of similar slenderness and awkwardness (plate 7, fig. 3, from Stratz, 1922, p. 258). It is commonly believed that this rapid growth of the appendages and their long bones is controlled by the secretions of the pituitary gland. Gradually in the boy, at 14 years, as the gonads begin to ripen, the growth of the legs is retarded and the transverse chest diameter begins to increase rapidly; the lad is quickly transformed into a broad-shouldered, broad-chested, stocky man (plate 3, fig. 3, plate 5, fig. 8) and accordingly the curve of build rises much more in the young man than in the young woman (plate 7, figs. 4 and 5). Consequently the adult female build, as measured by relative chest circumference, is relatively small. At about 19 or 20 years’ growth in stature has usually practically ceased. Meanwhile chest-girth increases slowly by the enlargement of trunk muscles and deposition of fat. Weight is, indeed, stated to increase, on the average, until the age of 55 years (tables 6 and 7).

TABLE 4A.—Weight, chest-girth, length of body, and relative chest-girth at birth and daily thereafter at 8ʰ30ᵐ for 10 days for 11 babies.

+---------------+---------------+------+-------+-------+-------+------- | |Measurements, | At | 1st | 2nd | 3d | 4th | | etc. |birth.| day. | day. | day. | day. +---------------+---------------+------+-------+-------+-------+------- |No. 1, male. |{Weight | 2126 |2084 |1970 |1899 |1885 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27.75| 27 | V 30, 2ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 45 | 43.75| 43.13| 42.75| 43 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6400 |6493 |6491 |6279 | | | | | | | |No. 2, male. |{Weight | 3472 |3494 |3423 |3366 |3430 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 35 | 35 | 34.25| 33 | 33.5 | V 30, 2ʰ25ᵐ |{Body-length | 52 | 52.25| 51.5 | 50.75| 51.5 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6699 |6651 |6503 |6505 | | | | | | | |No. 3, male. |{Weight | 2963 |2927 |2842 |2729 |2736 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 33 | 32.25| 31 | 31 | 32 | V 30, 19ʰ35ᵐ |{Body-length | 50 | 50.5 | 49 | 49 | 49.25 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6386 |6327 |6327 |6498 | | | | | | | |No. 4, male. |{Weight | 3558 |3487 |3303 |3154 |3204 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 34 | 34 | 33.5 | 33.25| 34 | V 30, 13ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 52 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 51.75 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6667 |6701 |6650 |6570 | | | | | | | |No. 5, male. |{Weight | 3005 |3305 |2913 |2856 |2892 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | VI 1, 3ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 52 | 51 | 51 | 50.75| 51 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6078 |6078 |6108 |6275 | | | | | | | |No. 6, male. |{Weight |3019 |2913 |2877 |2750 |2863 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 32.5| 31.75| 31.25| 31.75| 31.75 | VI 1, 12ʰ45ᵐ |{Body-length | 49 | 49 | 49.25| 49.25| 49.25 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6480 |6345 |6447 |6414 | | | | | | | |No. 7, male. |{Weight |3175 |3147 |3005 |2962 |2892 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 33 | 32.5 | 32 | 32 | 31 | VI 1, 23ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 50 | 51.25| 50.75| 50.75| 51 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6342 |6305 |6305 |6078 | | | | | | | |No. 8, female. |{Weight |2835 |2750 |2679 |2587 |2587 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 31.5| 32.5 | 31 | 31 | 31 | VI 3, 22ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 50 | 48.75| 48.75| 49 | 49 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6667 |6359 |6327 |6327 | | | | | | | |No. 9, male. |{Weight |3657 |3657 |3572 |3381 |3366 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 33 | 33.5 | 33 | 33 | 33.5 | VI 5, 23ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 53 | 53 | 52.5 | 53.5 | 53.5 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6321 |6286 |6168 |6262 | | | | | | | |No. 10, male. |{Weight |3232 |3118 |2948 |2821 |2814 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 32 | 34 | 31 | 31 | 31 | VI 6. 7ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 52 | 51.25| 50 | 51.5 | 51.5 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6244 |6800 |6019 |6019 | | | | | | | |No. 11, female.|{Weight |3303 |3175 |3076 |2962 |2934 | Time of birth,|{Ch. girth | 34 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | VI 5, 17ʰ00ᵐ |{Body-length | 52 | 50.25| 50 | 50 | 50 | |{Rel. ch. girth| |6766 |6800 |6600 |6600 | +======+=======+=======+=======+======= |Total relative | | | | | | chest-girth | |710483 |711435 |699448 |698260 |Average relative | | | | | | chest-girth × 1.037 | 661 | 670 | 671 | 659 | 658 +-------------------------------+------+-------+-------+-------+-------

-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | day. | day. | day. | day. | day. | day. | -------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ 1821 |1871 |1899 |1899 |1899 |1928 | 26.5 | 27.5 | 27.5 | 28 | 27.5 | 27.5 | 43 | 42 | 42.25| 42.25| 43 | 43.75| 6163 |6548 |6509 |6627 |6395 |6286 | | | | | | | 3466 |3529 |3508 |3515 |3529 |3572 | 34 | 33.5 | 33 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 52.25| 52.25| 52.25| 52.5 | 52.5 | 52.5 | 6507 |6412 |6416 |6381 |6381 |6381 | | | | | | | 2835 |2821 |2849 |2835 |2913 |2927 | 32.5 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32.5 | 32.5 | 49.5 | 49.5 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50.25| 6566 |6465 |6200 |6200 |6500 |6468 | | | | | | | 3303 |3359 |3409 |3416 |3473 |3494 | 33.5 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34.5 | 51.5 | 51.5 | 51.25| 51.25| 51.5 | 51.5 | 6505 |6602 |6634 |6634 |6602 |6699 | | | | | | | 2906 |2991 |3069 |3104 |3125 |3147 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 51 | 51.25| 51.5 | 52 | 52 | 51.25| 6275 |6079 |6214 |6346 |6346 |6244 | | | | | | | 2828 |2927 |2849 |2906 |2962 |2977 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31.5 | 32 | 48.75| 49 | 50 | 50 | 50.5 | 50.5 | 6564 |6530 |6400 |6400 |6238 |6337 | | | | | | | 2906 |2941 |2984 |2969 |3012 |3026 | 31.5 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 51 | 51 | 51.75| 51.75| 51.75| 52.75| 6177 |6275 |6184 |6184 |6184 |6184 | | | | | | | 2629 |2651 |2672 |2693 |2750 |2722 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 49.5 | 49.5 | 49.5 | 49.5 | 50 | 49.5 | 6263 |6263 |6060 |6263 |6200 |6263 | | | | | | | 3473 |3487 |3544 |3544 |3565 |3536 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 33 | 33 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 53.5 | 53.5 | 54 | 54 | 54.5 | 53.75| 6262 |6262 |6111 |6111 |6147 |6233 | | | | | | | 2835 |2849 |2870 |2877 |2948 |2941 | 31 | 31.5 | 31.5 | 31.5 | 31.5 | 31.5 | 51.5 | 51.5 | 51.5 | 51.5 | 52 | 52 | 6019 |6019 |6117 |6117 |6058 |6058 | | | | | | | 2955 |2962 |3033 |3059 |3033 |2984 | 32.5 | 32.5 | 32.5 | 32.5 | 32.5 | 33 | 50 | 50 | 50.25| 50.25| 50.25| 50.75| 6500 |6500 |6467 |6467 |6467 |6503 | =======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+ | | | | | | 697994 |699232 |692119 |697300 |695178 |696529 | | | | | | | 658 | 659 | 652 | 657 | 655 | 655 | -------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

It may be well to consider briefly, necessarily somewhat speculatively, the significance of this ontogenetic change in build. First of all, the high relative chest circumference of infancy is due chiefly to the extremely short legs of the infant. Leg-length constitutes only about 40 per cent of stature at birth, whereas it comes to constitute 53 to 55 per cent at maturity. Consequently, the relative leg-length at infancy is only a trifle more than 70 per cent of the adult relative leg-length. Likewise the leg-length of the gorilla is about 70 per cent that of a European man (German, cf. Martin, 1914, p. 308). Consequently the relative leg-length of the infant, at birth, is to that of the adult as the relative leg-length of an anthropoid ape is to the relative leg-length of man. Incidentally, it may be added that the relative length of the arm of the infant is only slightly (8 per cent) less than that of the adult, while in the chimpanzee the relative arm-length is 18 per cent greater than that of man.

We have seen that the relative leg-length of the boy increases to about 12 years and thereafter diminishes to the period of completed growth. The white man has his greatest leg-length shortly before adolescence. We find that among the races of mankind it is the long-legged negro tribes of East Africa, especially the upper Nile (Johnston, 1906. II, p. 932), which are among the lowest races of mankind, and which seem to represent in the adult the physical stage through which the white boy passes at 12 years. Other African tribes have, indeed, relatively shorter legs and thus show a persisting adult stage that is either slightly younger or slightly older than that of the 12-year-old white boy.

Figure 1 (to return to it after this digression) seems thus adequately to measure the varying build of humans from birth to past maturity. It may, indeed, be regarded as composed of two parts: first, that from birth to the cessation of growth in stature, and second, that beyond cessation of growth in stature.

The curve of build thus obtained is, apart from the first period of adjustment that follows birth, a smoothly flowing one, that might indeed be expressed by a formula

y = ax + bx² + cx³ + dx⁴, etc.

The curve of build of figure 1 seems to be new in this form. It is, however, of the same general shape as the curve of varying “Körperfülle” drawn by Martin (1914, p. 246) from Quetelet’s data and based on the relation of weight ÷ stature³. The numbers of children considered in Martin’s figure are inadequate and there is hardly sufficient justification for the use of this formula to express changes of build during ontogeny.

The ontogenetic curve of build may serve as a graphic representation of the stages of development as listed by Stratz (1922). These stages are shown in table 5.

TABLE 5.—Growth-periods in children.

+------------+-------------------------------------------------------+ |Year of age.| First (neutral) child age. | +------------+-------------------------------------------------------+ | 0 to 1 | Infancy. Lactation. | +------------+-------------------------------------------------------+ | 1 to 2 |} | | 2 3 |} First period of filling out. | | 3 4 |} | | | | | 4 5 |} | | 5 6 |} First stretching. | | 6 7 |} | +============+=======================================================+ | | Second (bisexual) child age. Youth. | +------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+ | | Boys. | Girls. | +------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+ | 7 to 8 |} Second period of | Second period of | | 8 9 |} filling out. | filling out (rounding | | 9 10 |} | of hips and legs). | | | | | | 10 11 |} | | | 11 12 |} Second stretching | Second stretching | | 12 13 |} (shooting up in | (shooting up in stature).| | 13 14 |} stature). Change | Menstruation; beginning | | 14 15 |} of voice. | breast development. | | | | | | 15 16 |} | | | 16 17 |} Third period of filling | Third period of fullness | | 17 18 |} out (broadening of | (rapid increase | | 18 19 |} chest; rapid increase | in weight). Maturity. | | 19 20 |} in weight). Maturity. | | +------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+

LATER ONTOGENETIC CHANGES IN INDIVIDUAL BUILD.

Any investigation of the heredity of build is apt to meet with the difficulty that only the present weights and statures of children, parents, and grandparents are known; that the persons are of different ages and hence the data concerning them are not precisely comparable. Even if we exclude from consideration children of the rapid developmental period, under 18 years of age, still we have the problem of individual change of build in mature life. Since stature is practically immutable at this period, change in build may be measured by change in weight. That change in weight does occur is notorious. Figures 3 to 6 illustrate graphically the changes in weight in various individuals from records taken almost at random. In figure 3 the curves of increasing weight run rapidly upward; in figure 4 they go up and then fall again; in figure 6 they are more nearly horizontal.

On the whole, the weight tends to increase with age. This is shown by the tables of the “Medico-Actuarial Mortality Investigation” (vol. 1, pp. 38 and 67). The tables are reproduced in our tables 6 and 7. They show that, on the average, weight tends to increase with age up to 50 or 51 years. The fact that there is, on the average, an increase in build, makes necessary an adjustment in some cases of the youthful indices of children to make them comparable with the adult indices of their parents.

The adjustment was made to the weight of the child by finding in the appropriate column of stature and line of age the expected weight and adding the difference between this weight and the weight in the same column opposite the mid-parental age to the given weight of the child.

TABLE 6.—Graded average weight of men of different statures at various ages.

+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Age, | feet. | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet | |years.| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | | | inch. |inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.| +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 15 | 107 | 109 | 112 | 115 | 118 | 122 | | 16 | 109 | 111 | 114 | 117 | 120 | 124 | | 17 | 111 | 113 | 116 | 119 | 122 | 126 | | 18 | 113 | 115 | 118 | 121 | 124 | 128 | | 19 | 115 | 117 | 120 | 123 | 126 | 130 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | 117 | 119 | 122 | 125 | 128 | 132 | | 21 | 118 | 120 | 123 | 126 | 130 | 134 | | 22 | 119 | 121 | 124 | 127 | 131 | 135 | | 23 | 120 | 122 | 125 | 128 | 132 | 136 | | 24 | 121 | 123 | 126 | 129 | 133 | 137 | | | | | | | | | | 25 | 122 | 124 | 126 | 129 | 133 | 137 | | 26 | 123 | 125 | 127 | 130 | 134 | 138 | | 27 | 124 | 126 | 128 | 131 | 134 | 138 | | 28 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 132 | 135 | 139 | | 29 | 126 | 128 | 130 | 133 | 136 | 140 | | | | | | | | | | 30 | 126 | 128 | 130 | 133 | 136 | 140 | | 31 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 134 | 137 | 141 | | 32 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 134 | 137 | 141 | | 33 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 134 | 137 | 141 | | 34 | 128 | 130 | 132 | 135 | 138 | 142 | | | | | | | | | | 35 | 128 | 130 | 132 | 135 | 138 | 142 | | 36 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 136 | 139 | 143 | | 37 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 136 | 140 | 144 | | 38 | 130 | 132 | 134 | 137 | 140 | 144 | | 39 | 130 | 132 | 134 | 137 | 140 | 144 | | | | | | | | | | 40 | 131 | 133 | 135 | 138 | 141 | 145 | | 41 | 131 | 133 | 135 | 138 | 141 | 145 | | 42 | 132 | 134 | 136 | 139 | 142 | 146 | | 43 | 132 | 134 | 136 | 139 | 142 | 146 | | 44 | 133 | 135 | 137 | 140 | 143 | 147 | | | | | | | | | | 45 | 133 | 135 | 137 | 140 | 143 | 147 | | 46 | 134 | 136 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | | 47 | 134 | 136 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | | 48 | 134 | 136 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | | 49 | 134 | 136 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | | | | | | | | | | 50 | 134 | 136 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | | 51 | 135 | 137 | 139 | 142 | 145 | 149 | | 52 | 135 | 137 | 139 | 142 | 145 | 149 | | 53 | 135 | 137 | 139 | 142 | 145 | 149 | | 54 | 135 | 137 | 139 | 142 | 145 | 149 | | 55 | | | | | | | |and up| 135 | 137 | 139 | 142 | 145 | 149 | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Age, | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet | |years.| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | | |inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.| +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 15 | 126 | 130 | 134 | 138 | 142 | 147 | | 16 | 128 | 132 | 136 | 140 | 144 | 149 | | 17 | 130 | 134 | 138 | 142 | 146 | 151 | | 18 | 132 | 136 | 140 | 144 | 148 | 153 | | 19 | 134 | 138 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 155 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | 136 | 140 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 156 | | 21 | 138 | 141 | 145 | 149 | 153 | 157 | | 22 | 139 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 154 | 158 | | 23 | 140 | 143 | 147 | 151 | 155 | 159 | | 24 | 141 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 156 | 160 | | | | | | | | | | 25 | 141 | 145 | 149 | 153 | 157 | 162 | | 26 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 154 | 158 | 163 | | 27 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 154 | 158 | 163 | | 28 | 143 | 147 | 151 | 155 | 159 | 164 | | 29 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 156 | 160 | 165 | | | | | | | | | | 30 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 156 | 161 | 166 | | 31 | 145 | 149 | 153 | 157 | 162 | 167 | | 32 | 145 | 149 | 154 | 158 | 163 | 168 | | 33 | 145 | 149 | 154 | 159 | 164 | 169 | | 34 | 146 | 150 | 155 | 160 | 165 | 170 | | | | | | | | | | 35 | 146 | 150 | 155 | 160 | 165 | 170 | | 36 | 147 | 151 | 156 | 161 | 166 | 171 | | 37 | 148 | 152 | 157 | 162 | 167 | 172 | | 38 | 148 | 152 | 157 | 162 | 167 | 173 | | 39 | 148 | 152 | 157 | 162 | 167 | 173 | | | | | | | | | | 40 | 149 | 153 | 158 | 163 | 168 | 174 | | 41 | 149 | 153 | 158 | 163 | 168 | 174 | | 42 | 150 | 154 | 159 | 164 | 169 | 175 | | 43 | 150 | 154 | 159 | 164 | 169 | 175 | | 44 | 151 | 155 | 160 | 165 | 170 | 176 | | | | | | | | | | 45 | 151 | 155 | 160 | 165 | 170 | 176 | | 46 | 152 | 156 | 161 | 166 | 171 | 177 | | 47 | 152 | 156 | 161 | 166 | 171 | 177 | | 48 | 152 | 156 | 161 | 166 | 171 | 177 | | 49 | 152 | 156 | 161 | 166 | 171 | 177 | | | | | | | | | | 50 | 152 | 156 | 161 | 166 | 171 | 177 | | 51 | 153 | 157 | 162 | 167 | 172 | 178 | | 52 | 153 | 157 | 162 | 167 | 172 | 178 | | 53 | 153 | 157 | 162 | 167 | 172 | 178 | | 54 | 153 | 158 | 163 | 168 | 173 | 178 | | 55 | | | | | | | |and up| 153 | 158 | 163 | 168 | 173 | 178 | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Age, | feet. | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet | |years.| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | | | inch. |inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.| +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 15 | 152 | 157 | 162 | 167 | 172 | 177 | | 16 | 154 | 159 | 164 | 169 | 174 | 179 | | 17 | 156 | 161 | 166 | 171 | 176 | 181 | | 18 | 158 | 163 | 168 | 173 | 178 | 183 | | 19 | 160 | 165 | 170 | 175 | 180 | 185 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | 161 | 166 | 171 | 176 | 181 | 186 | | 21 | 162 | 167 | 172 | 177 | 182 | 187 | | 22 | 163 | 168 | 173 | 178 | 183 | 188 | | 23 | 164 | 169 | 175 | 180 | 185 | 190 | | 24 | 165 | 171 | 177 | 182 | 187 | 192 | | | | | | | | | | 25 | 167 | 173 | 179 | 184 | 189 | 194 | | 26 | 168 | 174 | 180 | 186 | 191 | 196 | | 27 | 169 | 175 | 181 | 187 | 192 | 197 | | 28 | 170 | 176 | 182 | 188 | 193 | 198 | | 29 | 171 | 177 | 183 | 189 | 194 | 199 | | | | | | | | | | 30 | 172 | 178 | 184 | 190 | 196 | 201 | | 31 | 173 | 179 | 185 | 191 | 197 | 202 | | 32 | 174 | 180 | 185 | 192 | 198 | 203 | | 33 | 175 | 181 | 187 | 193 | 199 | 204 | | 34 | 176 | 182 | 188 | 194 | 200 | 206 | | | | | | | | | | 35 | 176 | 182 | 189 | 195 | 201 | 207 | | 36 | 177 | 183 | 190 | 196 | 202 | 208 | | 37 | 178 | 184 | 191 | 197 | 203 | 209 | | 38 | 179 | 185 | 192 | 198 | 204 | 210 | | 39 | 179 | 185 | 192 | 199 | 205 | 211 | | | | | | | | | | 40 | 180 | 186 | 193 | 200 | 206 | 212 | | 41 | 180 | 186 | 193 | 200 | 207 | 213 | | 42 | 181 | 187 | 194 | 201 | 208 | 214 | | 43 | 181 | 187 | 194 | 201 | 208 | 214 | | 44 | 182 | 188 | 195 | 202 | 209 | 215 | | | | | | | | | | 45 | 182 | 188 | 195 | 202 | 209 | 215 | | 46 | 183 | 189 | 196 | 203 | 210 | 216 | | 47 | 183 | 190 | 197 | 204 | 211 | 217 | | 48 | 183 | 190 | 197 | 204 | 211 | 217 | | 49 | 183 | 190 | 197 | 204 | 211 | 217 | | | | | | | | | | 50 | 183 | 190 | 197 | 204 | 211 | 217 | | 51 | 184 | 191 | 198 | 205 | 212 | 218 | | 52 | 184 | 191 | 198 | 205 | 212 | 218 | | 53 | 184 | 191 | 198 | 205 | 212 | 218 | | 54 | 184 | 191 | 198 | 205 | 212 | 219 | | 55 | | | | | | | |and up| 184 | 191 | 198 | 205 | 212 | 219 | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

TABLE 7.—-Graded average weight of women of different statures at various ages.

+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | | Age, | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet. | feet | |years.| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | | 1 | | |inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.| | inch. | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 15 | 101 | 103 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 109 | | 16 | 102 | 104 | 106 | 117 | 120 | 124 | | 17 | 103 | 105 | 107 | 109 | 111 | 113 | | 18 | 104 | 106 | 108 | 110 | 112 | 114 | | 19 | 105 | 107 | 109 | 111 | 113 | 115 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | 106 | 108 | 110 | 112 | 114 | 116 | | 21 | 107 | 109 | 111 | 113 | 115 | 117 | | 22 | 107 | 109 | 111 | 113 | 115 | 117 | | 23 | 108 | 110 | 112 | 114 | 116 | 118 | | 24 | 109 | 111 | 113 | 115 | 117 | 119 | | | | | | | | | | 25 | 109 | 111 | 113 | 115 | 117 | 119 | | 26 | 110 | 112 | 114 | 116 | 118 | 120 | | 27 | 110 | 112 | 114 | 116 | 118 | 120 | | 28 | 111 | 113 | 115 | 117 | 119 | 121 | | 29 | 111 | 113 | 115 | 117 | 119 | 121 | | | | | | | | | | 30 | 112 | 114 | 116 | 118 | 120 | 122 | | 31 | 113 | 115 | 117 | 119 | 121 | 123 | | 32 | 113 | 115 | 117 | 119 | 121 | 123 | | 33 | 114 | 116 | 118 | 120 | 122 | 124 | | 34 | 115 | 117 | 119 | 121 | 123 | 125 | | | | | | | | | | 35 | 115 | 117 | 119 | 121 | 123 | 125 | | 36 | 116 | 118 | 120 | 122 | 124 | 126 | | 37 | 116 | 118 | 120 | 122 | 124 | 126 | | 38 | 117 | 119 | 121 | 123 | 125 | 127 | | 39 | 118 | 120 | 122 | 124 | 126 | 128 | | | | | | | | | | 40 | 119 | 121 | 123 | 125 | 127 | 129 | | 41 | 120 | 122 | 124 | 126 | 128 | 130 | | 42 | 120 | 122 | 124 | 126 | 128 | 130 | | 43 | 121 | 123 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | | 44 | 122 | 124 | 126 | 128 | 130 | 132 | | | | | | | | | | 45 | 122 | 124 | 126 | 128 | 130 | 132 | | 46 | 123 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | | 47 | 123 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | | 48 | 124 | 126 | 128 | 130 | 132 | 134 | | 49 | 124 | 126 | 128 | 130 | 132 | 134 | | | | | | | | | | 50 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 135 | | 51 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 135 | | 52 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 135 | | 53 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 135 | | 54 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 135 | | 55 | 125 | 127 | 129 | 131 | 133 | 135 | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Age, | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet | |years.| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | |inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.| +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 15 | 112 | 115 | 118 | 122 | 126 | 130 | | 16 | 128 | 132 | 136 | 140 | 144 | 149 | | 17 | 116 | 119 | 122 | 125 | 129 | 133 | | 18 | 117 | 120 | 123 | 126 | 130 | 134 | | 19 | 118 | 121 | 124 | 127 | 131 | 135 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | 119 | 122 | 125 | 128 | 132 | 136 | | 21 | 120 | 123 | 126 | 129 | 133 | 137 | | 22 | 120 | 123 | 126 | 129 | 133 | 137 | | 23 | 121 | 124 | 127 | 130 | 134 | 138 | | 24 | 121 | 124 | 127 | 130 | 134 | 138 | | | | | | | | | | 25 | 121 | 124 | 128 | 131 | 135 | 139 | | 26 | 122 | 125 | 128 | 131 | 135 | 139 | | 27 | 122 | 125 | 129 | 132 | 136 | 140 | | 28 | 123 | 126 | 130 | 133 | 137 | 141 | | 29 | 123 | 126 | 130 | 133 | 137 | 141 | | | | | | | | | | 30 | 124 | 127 | 131 | 134 | 138 | 142 | | 31 | 125 | 128 | 132 | 135 | 139 | 143 | | 32 | 125 | 128 | 132 | 136 | 140 | 144 | | 33 | 126 | 129 | 133 | 137 | 141 | 145 | | 34 | 127 | 130 | 134 | 138 | 142 | 146 | | | | | | | | | | 35 | 127 | 130 | 134 | 138 | 142 | 146 | | 36 | 128 | 131 | 135 | 139 | 143 | 147 | | 37 | 129 | 132 | 136 | 140 | 144 | 148 | | 38 | 130 | 133 | 137 | 141 | 145 | 149 | | 39 | 131 | 134 | 138 | 142 | 146 | 150 | | | | | | | | | | 40 | 132 | 135 | 138 | 142 | 146 | 150 | | 41 | 133 | 136 | 139 | 143 | 147 | 151 | | 42 | 133 | 136 | 139 | 143 | 147 | 151 | | 43 | 134 | 137 | 140 | 144 | 148 | 152 | | 44 | 133 | 138 | 141 | 145 | 149 | 153 | | | | | | | | | | 45 | 135 | 138 | 141 | 145 | 149 | 153 | | 46 | 136 | 139 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 154 | | 47 | 136 | 139 | 142 | 146 | 151 | 155 | | 48 | 137 | 140 | 143 | 147 | 152 | 156 | | 49 | 137 | 140 | 143 | 147 | 152 | 156 | | | | | | | | | | 50 | 138 | 141 | 149 | 148 | 152 | 156 | | 51 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 157 | | 52 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 157 | | 53 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 157 | | 54 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | 153 | 158 | | 55 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 148 | 153 | 158 | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

+------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | | Age, | feet | feet | feet | feet | feet. | |years.| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | | | |inches.|inches.|inches.|inches.| | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 15 | 134 | 138 | 142 | 147 | 152 | | 16 | 154 | 159 | 164 | 174 | 179 | | 17 | 137 | 140 | 144 | 149 | 154 | | 18 | 138 | 142 | 145 | 150 | 155 | | 19 | 139 | 142 | 146 | 151 | 155 | | | | | | | | | 20 | 140 | 143 | 147 | 151 | 156 | | 21 | 141 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 156 | | 22 | 141 | 145 | 149 | 153 | 157 | | 23 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 153 | 157 | | 24 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 154 | 158 | | | | | | | | | 25 | 143 | 147 | 151 | 154 | 158 | | 26 | 143 | 147 | 151 | 155 | 159 | | 27 | 144 | 148 | 152 | 155 | 159 | | 28 | 145 | 149 | 153 | 156 | 160 | | 29 | 145 | 149 | 153 | 156 | 160 | | | | | | | | | 30 | 146 | 150 | 154 | 157 | 161 | | 31 | 147 | 151 | 154 | 157 | 161 | | 32 | 148 | 152 | 155 | 158 | 162 | | 33 | 149 | 153 | 156 | 159 | 162 | | 34 | 150 | 154 | 157 | 160 | 163 | | | | | | | | | 35 | 150 | 154 | 157 | 160 | 163 | | 36 | 151 | 155 | 158 | 161 | 164 | | 37 | 152 | 156 | 159 | 162 | 165 | | 38 | 153 | 157 | 160 | 163 | 166 | | 39 | 154 | 158 | 161 | 164 | 167 | | | | | | | | | 40 | 154 | 158 | 161 | 164 | 167 | | 41 | 155 | 159 | 162 | 165 | 168 | | 42 | 155 | 159 | 162 | 166 | 169 | | 43 | 156 | 160 | 163 | 167 | 170 | | 44 | 157 | 161 | 164 | 168 | 171 | | | | | | | | | 45 | 157 | 161 | 164 | 168 | 171 | | 46 | 158 | 162 | 165 | 169 | 172 | | 47 | 159 | 163 | 166 | 170 | 173 | | 48 | 160 | 164 | 187 | 171 | 174 | | 49 | 161 | 165 | 168 | 172 | 175 | | | | | | | | | 50 | 161 | 165 | 169 | 173 | 176 | | 51 | 162 | 166 | 170 | 174 | 177 | | 52 | 162 | 166 | 170 | 174 | 177 | | 53 | 162 | 166 | 170 | 174 | 177 | | 54 | 163 | 167 | 171 | 174 | 177 | | 55 | 163 | 167 | 171 | 174 | 177 | +------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

RELATION OF JUVENILE TO ADULT BUILD.

This adjustment was not always necessary, first, because in not a few cases the children were of an adult age and the data for the build of the parents, now dead, were given for the same age; second, examination of such developmental curves as are shown in figure 6 strongly indicates that when the parents are of slender build, and the children are of slender build at the age of 25 years younger than the parents, the increase in weight of the children will not usually follow the actuarial tables. The actuarial tables, indeed, represent only the average increase, and this average is made of a population that does not increase its weight at all when it grows older (fig. 6) and a population that increases its weight at a much faster rate than indicated in the actuarial tables (fig. 3). Consequently, no adjustment is made to the given weights of the children whose parents are slender. In the case where one parent was slender and one fat, the adjustment is still made in the build of all the children. This procedure, undoubtedly, introduces an error which, so far as I see, can not be avoided. Baldwin (1921, p. 74) states that “as a general rule heavy children remain relatively heavy during the period studied”; and his developmental curves of individual children show that the same persistence of the juvenile build is commonly true for children of slight weight. It is striking how often the children of heavy parents will be heavy even in youth, and conversely, children of exceptionally great weight are apt to retain, and add to, their build.

Chambers (1850, pp. 139-143) cites the following cases of early familial obesity: A boy of 3 years weighs 39.5 kg. (87 pounds); his 6 sisters and brothers are obese. A girl of 5 years 5 months weighs 89 kg. (196 pounds); obesity on both sides of the house. A boy of 16 weighs 114 kg. (252 pounds); there is collateral heredity.

A striking case of early obesity persisting to maturity is that of Miss Allen (plate 8).

On the other hand, it is often strikingly true that in families with a tendency to fleshy build some of the children will remain slender until 20 or 25 years and then begin to grow fat. The metabolic changes that induce fatness first appear in later life.