Anthropological Investigations
on
One Thousand white and Colored
Children of Both Sexes
«3£ ■£ *
H'rdl i cka
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
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ANTHROPOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS
i —
ON
One Thousand White and Colored Children of Both Sexes
The Inmates of the New York Juvenile Asylum,
With Additional Notes on One Hundred Colored Children of the New York Colorei.
Orphan Asylum.
By Dr. Ales Hrdlicka.
t-B
A/ 7
The Nature of the Investigations,
The following work is based upon the investigations of one
thousand children of the New York Juvenile Asylum and on about
one hundred additional cases of children of the New York Colored
Orphan Asylum.
Before proceeding to state the results of my investigations, I
think it advisable to make a few remarks about the real nature,
principal objects, and mode of execution of the work.
There were measured and examined, as thoroughly as possible
without offense to the modesty of the children, one thousand of the
inmates of the institution. In addition, as already mentioned, a
number of the most important measurements were secured on
about one hundred negro children, inmates of the New York
Colored Orphan Asylum.
In selecting the measurements to be applied to the children I
have chosen all those which can be expected to show the principal
characteristics of the children's evolution, and I have excluded all
those which are either of a secondary importance, or very difficult,
or uncertain of execution. The following measures were taken
■on each child:
I-. Height.
2. Sitting height.
3. Arm expanse.
4. Weight.
5. Depth of the chest (at the height of the nipples).
6. Width of the chest (at the same height).
7. Maximum circumference of the head.
8. The greatest length of the head.
9. The greatest width of the head.
10. The height of the head (from meati line).
4 Anthropological Investigations.
ii. Diameter bi-auricular of the head (the width of the head in
front and a little above the tragus of the ears).
12. The smallest width of the forehead.
In addition to these measurements, the average pressure and
traction force of each child in each of its hands was secured. j
The child having been measured, was subjected to a thorough
inspection. The inspection in boys comprised every part of the
body. This was also the case in the very small girls. In girls
above eight, the private parts of the body remained carefully covered.
In addition to the body, the structures in the mouth were exam-
ined, and finally the lungs and the heart were submitted to careful
percussion and auscultation.
To all examination-records were appended the most essential
facts from the history of the child and its family.
The Object of the Investigations.
The principal aim of these investigations, briefly expressed, is to
learn as much as possible about the physical state of the children
who are being admitted and kept in juvenile asylums.
In the second place, this study is a part of the general anthropo-
logical work of the author and thus expected to result in an addition
to our knowledge of the normal child, and of several classes of
children who are, morally or otherwise, abnormal.
It is well known that many of the children admitted into the
juvenile asylums come from very poor classes of people. The
second large contingent of the inmates are children who have been
sent to the institution as incorrigible or even criminal. Both these
classes of children are from sociological point of view abnormal,
and it is important to learn how far their physical characteristics
correspond to their moral character.
It is self-evident that if either or both of the two classes of children
were found to correspond physically to their social or moral state,
that is, if they were physically inferior to other children of the same
sex and similar age, then these subjects would have to be considered
as generally handicapped in the struggle of life. The only thing
which could be done for such children in an institution like the
Juvenile Asylum would be to more or less compensate for their
Hrdlicka. 5
natural defects. Under such circumstances the asylum would be
no more than a correctional institute and could never turn out
normal children who would be fully capable of wrestling with the
difficulties with which they will be confronted in life. If such is the
case, the community could not expect to greatly improve them in
the short term of two or three years, but would have to take very
much prolonged additional care of these individuals.
If, on the other hand, the inmates of the Juvenile Asylum are
not found to differ greatly in their strength and constitution from
the average ordinary children, and thus not be handicapped by
serious physical defects — then the state of these children will be
very much more hopeful. The community could in this case expect
that a course of proper training and instruction, such a course as
it tries to provide for these children in the Juvenile Asylum, would
be largely sufficient to elevate or reform these children and to allow
them to reach the normal average standard of boys and girls of
their ages. Individuals of this kind would be on an almost equal
footing in facing the problems of their lives with other individuals
who have never been socially or morally inferior, and they would be
almost as fully capable as these other children to become good and
useful members of the community. In this case it is plain that no
expense which the community might undergo to elevate and im-
prove the inmates of the Juvenile Asylum would be lost; further-
more, the community would be sure that every additional expense
for the benefit of this class of individuals would not be misapplied,
but could be expected to bring its proper returns.
It is true that actual experience may have already largely illus-
trated the problems just stated by showing what percentage of the
discharged inmates of the Juvenile Asylum have become self sup-
porting men and women and good members of society ; but science,
which will give us an intimate knowledge of every individual child
admitted, will effect more than mere experience alone could ever do.
A thorough knowledge of the subjects concerned, of the children
who are being committed to and discharged from our juvenile
asylums, will alone sufficiently clear up the problem of what future
can be expected for these children. Such a knowledge ought
to guide us very largely in establishing the most efficient means to
6 Anthropological Investigations.
secure for these children the best future that it may be possible to
provide for them.
Besides benefiting the whole class of children concerned, such in-
vestigations as have been undertaken on the inmates of the New
York Juvenile Asylum will also benefit the examined subjects in-
dividually and immediately.
If we should examine any given class of children in a thorough
way, we would find, now and then, in some individuals of the class,
certain small, physical deficiencies or irregularities, either natural or
acquired. We should find frequently, for instance, no matter how
normal mentally the class of children examined might be, and to
what social class it might belong, such abnormalities as adherence
of the prepuce in the boys, or as drooping shoulders on one side of
the body, due to habitual faulty positions, or a faulty position of
some of the teeth, etc. Most of the irregularities of these kinds can,
under the appropriate direction, be corrected, and such a correction
undoubtedly benefits the individual. It will be seen from the follow-
ing report how useful in these directions our examinations have
been.
So far I have spoken only of the direct advantages of the investi-
gations, but there are further and by no means secondary advan-
tages resulting from the same which are purely of a scientific nature.
This point will be best appreciated by a perusal of the report itself.
It will be seen that we have gained certain interesting data concern-
ing the evolution of the children in different ages. This study
enables us to state for the first time the physical differences in all
parts of the body between the white and colored children. The rec-
ords will also give us some notion as to the structural differences
among the children of several nationalities, etc. The majority of
the following data, however, should not be looked upon as definite
conclusions on the particular subject which they may concern.
They are really but indications of what can be expected from pro-
longed studies in the same direction.
The Mode of Execution of the Work.
In conducting examinations of this extent, the first and very im-
portant condition is to properly arrange the recording of the data.
N. Y. JUVENILE ASYLUM, Anthropological Examinations and Measurements. Accession No. of Sheet Sex Ages Date..
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Hrdlicka. 7
My system of doing this was the following: I would have a reliable
clerk sitting behind a screen in the same room where I conduct the
examinations, and to this clerk I would dictate in a systematic way
the condition of part after part of the body of the subject examined.
To this record would later be joined the measures of the subject.
After the examination and measuring have been recorded on the
sheet, the same was completed with such case-book data concerning
the subject as were considered to be of importance and reliable.
All the records concerning an individual would be kept on one
separate sheet. These individual sheets make it very easy to ar-
range the subjects, before tabulating the data, according to any
prime condition required (such as sex, age, etc.).
The next important step in working on the records is their proper
tabulation. In order to facilitate this I constructed sheets of which
I give here an illustration. The advantages of such sheets are too
evident to be dilated upon. Such an arrangement enables us to
handle whole groups of subjects with almost as much ease and with
equal precision as we would handle an individual.
It is hardly necessary for me to state that I made personally all
the examinations. This is the best way in which to assure a perfect
uniformity of the work and a full value of the results therefrom.
As to the measurements, I have received valuable aid from Mr.
W. R. Buchanan, one of the attendants of the institution.
All measuring was done with modern and well tested instruments.
Mr. Buchanan received thorough instruction in the matter from me,
and his measures were not allowed to stand as valid until I had satis-
fied myself that his errors in successive measurements on the same
person were reduced to a minimum, and that he had a thorough
understanding of what he was doing. Even then, in order to insure
a full reliability of the measurements, in all cases where a certain
measurement was found to differ from time to time through con-
ditions on the part of the individual measured (such as for instance
was the case with the height, the chest, and the force measurements),
I have allowed to be stated only the average of three measures
secured at different periods. In addition, I satisfied myself from
time to time by re-measuring some of the children that the data ob-
tained by Mr. Buchanan remain correct. Such precautions, with an
8 Anthropological Investigations.
intelligent, patient and interested man, and good instruments, could
not but secure precision.
The children without a single exception on the part of the boys
and with a very few exceptions on the part of the girls were happy
to submit to the examinations. The few cases of girls in which any
objections existed were promptly excused from the necessity of be-
ing examined.
In no single case was there observed even a temporary bad effect
of any kind on the minds of the children as a result of the examina-
tions. I beg to accentuate this fact, as very frequently the possi-
bility of such an effect has a deterring influence on the authorities of
schools or institutions where there are no other objections to investi-
gations on the inmates.
Arrangement of the Records.
The study will be presented in several sections, which are calcu-
lated to throw some light on distinct groups of children.
Part I. General data on the total of subjects. — The children in
this group are separated only according to sex and color.
Part II. Detailed study. — Children in this group are separated
according to their color, sexes and ages.
Part III. Physical differences between white and colored chil-
dren of both sexes and different ages.
Part IV. Children of different nationalities. — Subjects divided ac-
cording to their sexes and ages.
Part V. Children without any physical defects, with their family
and individual histories.
Part VI. Children with five or more physical abnormalities.
Part VII. Vicious and criminal children.
Part VIII. Children whose parents were intemperate, prostitute
or criminal.
Part IX. Children both of whose parents are dead.
Part. X. Children one or both of whose parents died of consump-
tion.
Hrdlicka.
PART I.
General Observations on the Total of Characters of the
White and of the Colored Children.
There were no systematic observations made on the inmates of
the Juvenile Asylum, but 1 took every occasion to come into a close
contact with the children and to learn as much as possible about
their moral status, their habits and their health. The observations
thus collected were confirmed by inquiries among the teachers and
attendants of the children; and I have received especially valuable
assistance in this respect from the Superintendent of the Institution,
Dr. Bruce. In a general way I can sum up the observations as
follows:
When the children are admitted into the institution, they are
almost invariably in some way, both morally and physically, inferior
to healthy children from good social classes at large. A closer ob-
servation, however, reveals the fact that the inferiorities of the chil-
dren who are becoming inmates of the Juvenile Asylum, are in the
majority of cases only the results of neglect, or of improper nutri-
tion, or of both these causes combined. Many of the children are
more or less neglected, or spoiled, or less developed or strong, than
they should be; but a really inferior child, that is, an inherently
vicious, or an imbecile child, or a child who could not be much
improved by better food and better hygienic surroundings, is a very
rare exception.
Within a month, at most, after the admission of the child into
the Asylum, and sometimes within a week, decided changes for the
better are observed in almost every instance. Among the first
improvements noticed in the children are better appetite and better
appearance; while from the moral standpoint it is noticeable that the
children stop using foul language, show more obedience, and mani-
fest much less disposition to lying and pilfering.
What is a very important fact, and at the same time the best
evidence of the real character of these children, is that after their
admission, gradually, all of the individuals of the same sex and age
io Anthropological Investigations.
become more and more alike, and show less and less of their former
diversity. Each child, of course, preserves the fundamental differ-
ences of its nature, but it loses gradually more and more of those
conditions, both physical and moral, which distinguished it acutely
from the healthy and well-trained children, as well as from the
individuals confined a longer time in the institution. These changes,
although taking place on the basis of rule and advice, are not due
to compulsion. One of the most important factors in this improve-
ment of the newly admitted subjects, I have noticed to be spontane-
ous emulation by the newcomers of the already improved habits of
the children who have been here longer. After the first few weeks
of residence the children settle well down to the life of the institu-
tion, and they can seldom be seen in any but a happy state of mind
and good disposition.
In learning, the newcomers are generally found to be more or
less retarded when brought to school in the institution, but in a
great majority of cases they begin to acquire rapidly, and a child
usually reaches the average standard of the class to which it is
allotted. An inveterate backwardness in learning is not noticeable,,
except in a few instances.
The advance of the children continues slowly in all directions
during their stay in the asylum. When the time of discharge comes,
the children have certainly all more or less improved. I have had
occasion to satisfy myself of this fact by re-examining a number of
the subjects immediately before they were discharged, and although
the periods since the first examination of the same individuals
amounted to only from three to six months, nevertheless in every
case a general improvement, both physically and in the behavior of
the child, was noticeable.
I cannot say, however, that every child is discharged from the
New York Juvenile Asylum only when all the improvement of which
he or she was in need, or which was possible with them, has been
achieved. Undoubtedly many of the children are discharged before
the full good, both physical and moral, has been effected.
It is widely different to teach a habit to a child, and to inculcate
this habit so that it becomes a firm part of its nature. The child,
who has been many times well compared with a young tree, which
you can bend in any direction, can be corrected of bad habits and
Hrdlicka. II
taught good ones, and can in addition be physically much improved
in a comparatively short time. But the child will lose these advan-
tages as rapidly as it has acquired them if it comes into circum-
stances which favor their loss. Only such a child will be safe
against losing the benefits given to it by the institution, in whom
the body has been permanently strengthened and in whom the good
habits have been so firmly inculcated that they become a stable
component part of its nature.
To improve a child to the degree just expressed requires a much
longer time than is necessary simply to teach the child better habits
and elevate its physical condition. The length of time necessary to
effect the complete restoration of the child (and this, I think, is the
only true duty and the only true charity of society), will vary largely
with different individuals, and can only be determined by a constant
and careful observation of each subject by his attendants, his teacher
and his physician.
I will not enter here into further details.
That what I said above is true, is well demonstrated by the fre-
quent recurrences in cases where the discharged child returned to
similar circumstances in which it lived before coming into the
Juvenile Asylum. Fortunately in a very large number of instances
the child gets a new home in which the good circumstances initiated
in the asylum continue until the child is out of danger of recurrence.
Examinations.
Of the 1,000 children examined, 700 were boys and 300 were girls.
Of the boys 634 were white and .66 colored. The girls include 274
white and 26 colored children.
In age the white boys ranged from 5 to 17 years, the white girls
from 5 to 18. The colored boys from 6 to 16, and the colored girls
from 7 to 15 years.
The methods of examination have already been explained. All
such parts examined which were found to agree well with the typical
form of the same parts in healthy children of corresponding color,
sex and age, were recorded as normal. As an abnormality every-
thing was characterized which was a decided deviation from the typi-
cal form in health of the particular part examined.
12 Anthropological Investigations.
The recorded abnormalities comprised two principal classes of
characters: First, Those characters whose origin can be referred to
some irregularity or defect in the principles from which the child
originates, (that is in the paternal sperm or in the maternal ovule,) or
to the embryonic evolution of the individual. And second, All
those characters whose origin is subsequent to the origin period of
the being, and which develop mostly after the birth of the child.
The first class of abnormalities is generally termed inherited, or
congenital, or inborn, while characters of the second class are called
acquired abnormalities.
The abnormalities of the second class here defined are principally
the results of early pathological processes, or they may be due to
the habits of the individual. The pathological conditions which
most frequently are the source of such subsequent abnormalities in
a child are above all the various degrees of rachitis, and then early
paralyses.
Abnormalities due to habit are usually developed by the individual
using one arm or one foot or some other part of the body much in
excess to the other limb or other parts, or by habitual improper
holding of the body.
In the case of younger children, the subject will frequently allow
one of his shoulders to droop more than the other. Or the child will
support itself more on one lower limb than on the other, and as a
consequence acquire a lateral inclination of the pelvis, or of the
spine. Other children will habitually hold their heads too low or
to one side and acquire stooping shoulders, or a faulty position of
the head.
In other children the nature of the work which they begin to do
frequently gives rise to habitual faulty positions of some part of
the body, which may ultimately result in established deformities.
As an example of abnormalities of this kind I may again mention
drooping shoulders, pelvic inclinations, and even depressions of cer-
tain parts of the chest, such as occur particularly in shoemakers.
The significance and gravity of the various abnormalities differ
considerably. This problem can be viewed either objectively or
subjectively.
The objective significance of atypical characters, that is, the mean-
Hrdlicka. 13
ing of the abnormalities of a being- when we consider the standing of
that being in a class of similar individuals, is quite uncertain and is
being still generally much discussed. As a matter of fact there are
very fezv abnormalities which we can observe in man that may be
positively said to render the individual generally either decidedly in-
ferior or markedly superior to his fellow beings. No single physi-
cal abnormality {and but a rare combination of abnormalities) suffices
of itself to stamp any individual as a human degenerate.
It may be said that the great majority of the inborn abnormalities
still elude our comprehension, and from what experience teaches us
we must assume that these characters, as well as numbers of ac-
quired abnormalities, are largely without any objective significance.
As examples of inborn characters without any known or traceable
significance may be mentioned the abnormalities we observe on the
toes and those of the external ear.
A certain objective effect may in some cases be due to the dis-
figurement to which some abnormalities give rise.
The subjective effects of abnormalities differ very largely. They
differ according to the situation of the abnormalities and according
to their extent. The malformation of some part of the body may
not only have a depressing effect on the individual who possesses it,
but it may also interfere with his work or other functions. Ob-
liquely set eyes, for instance, or even a case of pronounced strabis-
mus, may, at least for a time, cause considerable worry, depression
and inconvenience to their owner; while a deformed limb may in-
terfere with the walking, or, in the case of the hand, the deformity
may prove to be a serious hindrance to the acquisition of certain
handicrafts by the individual and thus be a serious personal dis-
advantage. If the abnormality concerns the head, it may prove of
even graver subjective consequences to the being than if any of the
limbs are affected. If, for example, as a result of rachitis or some
other pathological process, there occurs a very premature union of
the cranial sutures, the sequellae of this may favor a decadence of
the mental powers of the individual, and possibly even render him
imbecile. Curvatures of the spine or of other bones may cause the
individual many a difficulty in his life, and certain abnormalities of
the genital organs may result in unpleasant and even serious conse-
14 Anthropological Investigations.
■quences. On the other hand, a large number of abnormalities, and
especially those of congenital nature, have very little or no traceable
subjective effect on their bearer.
What has just been said is principally for the purpose of affording
indications as to how to properly view the abnormalities we may
meet in the inmates of the New York Juvenile Asylum.
It should be kept in mind, first of all, that many of the abnormali-
ties of which we shall speak are simply the results of states of mal-
nutrition, or of certain pathological conditions, and do not indicate
inferiority any more than would a pale skin after a hemorrhage or
so many scars after wounds.
In the second nlace, a great many of those abnormalities in our
children, which are really due to some defects or peculiarities of
either of the parental principles from which the being springs, are,
so far as we know, without any practical significance, either objec-
tive or subjective.
Third, it is a fact, although we have no real statistics on this
point, that any of the abnormalities met with in this institution can
also be met with occasionally in the children of any class or social
position.
And fourth, the real object of the exposure of the abnormalities
of these children is not only to show their physical standing, but
also to show the way to repair or compensate for the inborn defects,
or the consequences of previous afflictions of these individuals.
We will now approach the data obtained by the examinations. In
this place only the total figures will be given; the details will be
found in the various sections of the study.
A.mong the 634 white males examined, 58, or a little over 9 per
cent., show no abnormality whatever on any part of their body.
Among the 274 white girls examined, there were 35, or almost 13
per cent., on whose body there was nothing atypical. From among
the 66 negro boys, 5, or 7.6 per cent., were entirely normal, while
out of the 26 colored girls there were 7, or almost 27 per cent., who
showed no irregularities.
Thus about one-seventh of all the inmates of the New York Juve-
nile Asylum are without a blemish on their bodies. This proportion
may perhaps seem somewhat small to those who are not accus-
Hrdlicka. 15
tomed to close examinations of either children or adults. Those
who have closely examined numerous individuals know that a
bodv perfect in all its parts is rare in any class of either
young subjects or grown people. This fact can be appreciated by
every intelligent observer, even though he be not an anthropologist,
if he will closely scrutinize his acquaintances, or his friends, and
even himself and his own children. He will see so many irregular
ears, teeth, heads, faces, etc., that instead of regarding 14 per cent,
as too small a percentage of normality, he will wonder at the extent
of this proportion.
It will be noticed from the above figures that the girls show a
better physical standing in both the white and colored children, and
also that the colored boys seem to be physically somewhat inferior
to the white ones. But it should be remembered in the first place
that we have not examined the genital organs and the gluteal region
of the female children. If we eliminate these same items with the
boys, we obtain as entirely typical 89, or 14 per cent., of the white,
and 7, or 10.6 per cent., of the colored subjects, which proportions
are nearer to those obtained in the girls. I hardly doubt but that,
would we examine also the above-mentioned parts in the female
children, the proportion of abnormalities in the two sexes would be
nearly alike. As to the somewhat greater apparent inferiority of
the colored boys, I am afraid that the number of these examined is
too small to allow us to form any definite conclusions. It has been
always my experience, in examinations outside of the Juvenile Asy-
lum, to find the negroes in the average physically superior to the
whites and possessing less of abnormalities, which fact is also well
exemplified in our colored girls, and will be shown in the item where
will be stated the proportions of abnormalities to the different
groups of children with the same abnormalities.
Out of the remaining children, that is, those who show one or
several atypical physical characters, there were 112, or 17.7 per
cent., white, and 11, or 16.7 per cent., colored boys, and J2, or 263
per cent., white, and 5, or 19.2 per cent., colored girls, who pre-
sented only one single abnormality. The abnormality which these
children showed was in many cases but a slight one, and we really
ought to count most of the individuals of this group among the
entirely normal subjects.
16 Anthropological Investigations.
The number of physically inferior children is not easy to ascertain.
We have two distinct criteria by which to determine an abnormal
subject, namely, the gravity of the atypical characters the individual
presents, or simply the number of these characters. Neither of these
criteria is entirely satisfactory. We have not the knowledge to be
able to judge of the exact significance and gravity of every abnor-
mality; and, on the other hand, the simple number of irregularities
on a body does not express their import and hence the real state of
the body. However, the latter criterion, which deals with the
numbers and not the gravity of the abnormalities, is to be here
preferred as about equally efficient to the first and very much more
simple and certain.
How many atypical characters ought a subject to have in order
to be considered an exception among the average children? There
is no pre-established standard for this, and the formation of our
standard will be quite arbitrary. On the basis of general scientific
principles, and as a result of a thorough study of the subject in
question, I think it will be safe to mark all those children as excep-
tional in whom more than one-half of the parts of the body exam-
ined presented each one or more abnormalities.
There were of such children 62, or 9.8 per cent., among the white,
and 8, or 12. 1 per cent., among the colored boys, and 16, or 5.8 per
cent., among the white, and 1, or 3.8 per cent., among the colored
girls.
There is not much difference — at least no difference which we
have not already observed — according to the color of the children;
but there is a decided difference between the males and the females
of both the whites and the negroes, the females showing a much
smaller proportion of subjects with numerous abnormalities.
The percentages of children in this class are not very extraor-
dinary. It should be noticed that if we take away the two extremes,
the physically entirely normal individuals and those with many
abnormalities, that we have remaining fully four-fifths of all the
children examined as those with intermediary conditions. Should
we, for the sake of illustration, express the physical condition of the
children by such terms is fine, medium and bad, the fine and bad
would embrace in all 192 individuals, while 808 would remain as
medium.
Hrdlicka. 17
The average proportion of abnormalities to the whole number
of subjects with same were found to be as follows: Proportion to
each white boy, 2.71; to each colored boy, 2.60; to each white girl,
2.33; to each colored girl, 2.05.
I doubt very much whether similarly careful and extensive records
on any 1,000 ordinary children of similar ages outside of the insti-
tution would show figures greatly different from those above. Of
course, in the children of the wealthy classes we may find that
certain of the abnormalities have been corrected by the physician,
dentist, oculist or trainer.
Excluding the children in whom one-half or more of the parts of
the body examined show some abnormality, I think it would be
safe to consider the remaining inmates of the asylum, so far as
abnormalities are concerned, as fairly average children.
The different number of abnormalities observed in different sub-
jects give us a basis for several interesting curves which illustrate
very nicely the averages and the extremes of the physical condition
of the children, according to their color and sexes. These curves,
which do not need much comment, are here reproduced. We can
notice principally the aggregation of the bulk of the children within
the first three or four columns, that is, near to the normal. It can be
seen, further, that all the curves in the white and in the colored, and
in the males as well as in the females, present almost the same figure.
The somewhat more erratic curves in the negroes are undoubtedly
due to small numbers of individuals which enter into their formation.
The next step in the analysis of the observed abnormalities will
be a division of these characters according to the parts of the body
on which they were detected.
I will give here several rows of figures which will show the per-
centage of the abnormalities on each separate part of the body in
the white children, and next to these I will place similar percentages-
obtained on negro children. The latter figures are still somewhat
influenced by the small number of subjects.
These data have no relation to the amount of abnormalities ob-
served in the different classes of children. They simply express the
relative frequency of the various irregularities in different portions
of the body.
18 Anthropological Investigations.
The table is arranged in such a way that the white males are taken
as a standard for the headings, and we proceed from the minimum
of percentages to the maximum of same:
Percentage of Abnormalities of the Different Parts of the Body.
Reference to the Total of Abnormalities.
with
White male,
genital abnor-
malities ex-
cluded.
a
o
'a
_o
c
Colored male,
genital abnor-
ni a 1 i t i e s ex-
cluded.
Colored female.
%
%
1 09
2.09
2.95
6 15
6 43
8.97
9.11
9.33
9.62
11.72
15.99
20.83
%
0.20
1.07
3.05
1 61
8.24
6 45
8.96
10.75
5.73
5.56
12.00
15 77
20.40
%
0.64
0.64
9.55
3.18
9.55
8.28
9.55
12.74
6.37
12 74
9.55
17.20
%
0.76
0.76
11 53
3.84
11.53
10.00
11 53
15 38
7 69
15.38
11.53
%
0.90
1.75
2.47
5.12
5.36
7.47
7.60
7.78
8.02
9 76
13.32
13.74
16.70
Hair
Head
12.20
4.90
Teet h
4.90
7.32
2.44
Body .
14.63
9.75
19.50
Palate
25.00
It appears from the above table that more abnormalities are found
in both white and colored children on the parts about the head, in-
cluding the face and the mouth, than on all the rest of the body.
Abnormalities of the palate, the ear, and particularly those of the
male genitals, are the most frequent.
In but a very few parts of the body is there any decided difference
in the percentages of the abnormalities between the two sexes.
Atypical forms of the palate are relatively much more frequent in
the female than they are in the male, which fact is especially notice-
able in the colored children.
The forehead was found more frequently deformed in the male,
both white and colored. The limbs are somewhat more often ab-
normal in some respect in the females, again in both white and
colored. . The teeth of the colored girls appear to be more regular
than those of the colored boys. The face is decidedly more often
abnormal in the boys. The bodies of the white girls appear to be
in average more free from irregularities than the bodies of the
white boys; in the colored children we notice no difference.
Fig. 3.— Advanced scaphocephaly. Due to premature union of sagittal suture, as a
consequence of which the head becomes very long and narrow.
Fig. 3.— Lateral View.
■
Hrdlicka.
19
The differences between the white and the colored children are
riot as well defined as they would be if we had sufficient numbers of
the colored subjects. It will be noticed, however, that among the
colored children there were found none with strabismus; further,
that the head of the colored children in both sexes shows less fre-
quent irregularities, and the limbs, also, in both sexes, more frequent
irregularities, than is the case in the white children. The teeth and
the face in the colored girls are less frequently affected than they
are among the white girls. The differences in the palate, which
seem so apparent are chiefly due to the small number of the colored
subjects.
I will give next the varieties of abnormalities which were observed in
connection with the different parts of the body. In this case we will
follow the parts of the body in the order in which they were in-
spected. Abnormalities about the serious nature of which there is
no doubt will be printed in italics.
Abnormalities of the Head.
Number of children examined .
Total number of abnormalities.
Head very large (after a hydrocephalus)
Head very high
Head very narrow
Head asymetrical, or irregular
Scaphocephaly -.
Depression about one or more of the sutures.
Elevation about coronal suture
Parietes very prominent
Parietal bosses puiuted
Occiput very prominent
Occiput flattened in some part
Occiput irregular
Ketromastoid region very prominent
White.
Male. Female.
634
274
36
Colored.
Male. Female.
Abnormalities of the Scalp.
Number of children examined .
Total number of abnormalities
Plexi of veins over
274
1
20
Anthropological Investigations.
Abnormalities of the Hair.
White.
Colored
Male. Female.
Number of children examined .
Total number of abnormalities.
Alopecia (not traceable to disease)
Alopecia areata (not traceable to disease)
Several shades of color
Much hair over the forehead
Double hair whirl behind
Triple whirl behind
Hair whirl abi>ve the forehead
Double whirl above the forehead
624
29
274
17
Male.
Female.
36
Abnormalities of the Forehead.
Number of children examined .
Total number of abnormalities
Very high
Very low
Very narrow
Sloping
Asymmetrical
Square
Frontal bosses prominent
Prominent in centre
634
41
274
10
Abnormalities of the Face.
Number of children examined .
Total number of abnormalities
Atymmetrical
Smaller on lejl
Sm aller on righ t
Very b>ng
Esquimaux like
Lower part heavy
Brows heavy
Eyes deep set
Eyes unequal in position . .
Eye slits oblique
Wall of left orbit irregular
Mongolic folds
C'aiitlii deficient
Right iris double color
Nose deflected
Nose irregular
Nose flat
Nose low
Nose broad root
Nose septum low
iYo*e septum deficient
Vault of superior maxillary low
Lett labial angle lower
Lips thick
Chin pointed.
Chin receding
634
129
274
32
r
Fig. 4. — Hair whirl above the forehead; tendency to a double whirl in this case.
Anomaly, congenital, causation uncertain.
Fig. 5,— Double lobule of right ear. Anomaly, apparently congenital in this case.
Due to defect in the development of the part.
I
Pig. 6. a.— Flaring ears. Anomaly, of congenital origin, causation uncertain,
Fig. 6, b.
Hrdlicka.
Abnormalities of the Ears.
21
Abnormalities of the Gums.
Number of children examined.
Total Dumber of abnormalities
Asymmetrical
Defect in miildle of both.
Massive both
Prognathic
Tipper—
asymmetrical
irregular
prognathic
narrow in front
Y-shaped
massive
flat
634
163
Lower —
asymmetrical
polygonal
bony prominence
Upper labial trenum low
Mucous membrane adherent.
274
67
Abnormalities of the Teeth — Dentition.
Number of children examined.
Total number of abnormalities
Wanting —
left bicuspid
lower second incisors
all second incisors
second left incisors
second uppr incisors
second left upper and lower incisors
Supei uuruerary —
an incisor in both jaws
double teeth in place of lower incisor and canine
Left upper canine double
274
2
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
634
222
274
88
66
20
2
2
11
17
3
2
1
3
29
2
11
1
77
2
8
3
1
28
2
1
13
2
1
2
6
1
1
1
2
" 54
7
1
6
I
5
1
1
1
5
6
1
6
Thick
Flaring
1
26
22
Anthropological Investigations.
Abnormalities of the Teeth — Denture.
Number of children examined..
Total number of abnormalities .
Very large
Diminutive
Canines very high
with tubercles
Incisors with tubercles
Corrugations on teeth
Teeth inverted
Incisors irregularly set
Canines irregularly set
Diastemse around one or more teeth
White.
COLOEED.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
634
116
274
48
66
15
26
2
1
10
11
7
2
11
4
26
3
41
4
1
3
1
22
_3
14
1
6
1
3
3
1
1
1
Abnormalities of the Palate.
Number of children examined.
Total number ot abnormalities
Asymmetrical
Irregular
Broad
Narrow
High
Shallow
High and narrow
V-shaped anteriorly
Got hie
Small
Torus
634
22«
274
114
66
15
26-
10
38
1
1
81
69
1
7
4
5
1
20
26
29
43
1
14
2
1
4
3
1
4
3-
S
Abnormalities of the Uvula.
Number of children examined
Total number of abnormalities
Deformed
Very long
Very .vmall
Biped
More posterior than usual
Deflected to left
Deflected to right
A bsrn 1
Could uotbe examined on account of excessive sensitiveness
6'4
274
129
62
3
1
4
3
7
2
1
42
29
67
25
1
1
3
2
26-
4
Abnormalities of the Limbs.
Xumber of children examined.
Total number of abnormalities
Hands long
Left upper limb smaller than right
High t arm smaller than lejt
Right humerus bent forward
Might limb small and shot t
Curvature of femur
Curvature of bones of the leg
Jjegs and feet abnormally short
Limbs below knees uniform in size (not oedema).
Feet very long
Fore part of feet very broad
274
46
2fr
Fig. 7.— Polygonal lower jaw, adult. The teeth do not form an arch, but a figure with
three straight sides. Anomaly, probably of congenital origin, though late in develop-
ment, and accentuated by strong canines. Occurs typically in lower jaw only.
' * ^^^p
Fig. 8, a.— Canines surmounted by a tubercle.
Anomaly, acquired, probably of rachitic origin.*
Fig. 8, b.
Fig. 9.— Teeth showing marked indentations, in rows. Anomaly, acquired, probably
of rachitic origin.
♦See Anthropolog. Studies of the Syracuse Feeblc-Minded Children, by the author
(Supplemental Report of the Institution, 1898).
Hrdlicka. 23
Abnormalities of the Limbs — (Continued).
Toes:
First toes very long
First toes very sboit
Second toe longer than first and third
Second toe shorter thau third
Second toe bent outward
Second toe overlap third
Second toe contracted
Second toes point downward and outward
Second aud third toes longer than first
Second and third toes partly joined at base
Marked spaces between first aud second toes..
Third toes longer than second and fourth
Third toes shorter than second and fourth
Third tees contracted
Third toes point inward and downward
Third and fourth toes diminutive
Fourth toe longer than third
Fourth and filth toes much smaller than third.
Fifth toe very short
Depression in heel
(Tattooing on limbs)
White.
Male. Female.
(10)
Colored
Male. Female.
Abnormalities of the Body.
Number of children examiued.
Total number of abnormalities
Frail
Ancemic
Marasmatic
Left side shorter than right
Left side stronger than right
Lower half of the body strongest (rachitic)
Shoulders very sloping
right lower
left lower
right narrow
right smaller than left
Clavicles bent upwards
Supraclavicular space very small
Suprasternal depression very large
Chest :
flat
prominent on left
deformed in front
left side larger
left side smaller
deformed irregularly
prominent in middle, or cliicken breasted
protruding in a summit
left edge of sternum Idgher
receding in centre
depression over sternum
flattening below clavicles
right side of chest flat. --
depression over cat tilcges below nipples
groove below sternum
marked prominent hollow over Uh, 7th, 8th and dth ribs
right side of chest narrow ■
double large fatty fold in front of axilla-
dark spots over chest and abdomen
Dorsal spine inclxm d
spinal curvature (permanent)
whirl of hair over upper dorsal region
Skin pigmented
634
133
274
31
C6
20
26
6
2
3
1
6
2
2
0
1
1
6
2
1
1
1
3
2
1
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
24
Anthropological Investigations.
Abnormalities of the Body — (Continued).
Abdomen :
umbilical hernia
inguinal hernia, left
flight hip prominent
Buttocks :
gluteal fold loDg
gluteal fold very short
gluteal fold oblique
buttocks very prominent
gluteal fold inclined to right.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
2
1
3
1
1
6
1
3
1
2
Abnormalities of the Genitals.
Number of children examined .
Total number of abnormalities
Penis very large
very long
very short
very small
Glans small
Penis flexed to left.
Phimoses
Piepuce adherent
contracted
narrow
very long and thickened
Hypospadiasis
Scrotum almost absent
Testicles absent
One testicle absent
One testicle not descended (but palpable)
Both testicles not descended " "
letticles very small
relatiTely large
Varicocele on left testicle
White spots on base of penis
634
277
1
5
9
1
1
32
193
1
10
1
1
1
1
1
6
1
1
1
1
1
274
16
The principal facts which the preceding data reflect are the
following-:
The variety of the irregularities observed in the children of the
Juvenile Asylum is very great. There is no one, nor any set of the
abnormalities, which runs through such a number of subjects, that
we could consider it typical of the asylum children, or of any similar
class. There is no abnormal type of individuals present in the insti-
tution: whatever abnormal individuals there may be there are but
exceptions.
A very large proportion of the observed abnormalities is of but
a slight character, and of very little objective or subjective effect on
Fig. 10.— Second and third toes united for about half their length from their base
(two subjects). Congenital anomaly, various degrees of which are very common both
in children and adults.
Hrdlicka. 25
the individual. These characters will interfere but very little, if
at all, with any progress in life of which the child may be otherwise
capable.
In addition to the above data, I have endeavored to pick out and
contrast the different abnormalities according to their origin. It was
found that the majority of the atypical characters can be referred to
three classes of origin, that is, either among the inborn, or con-
genital characters, which are not due to any disease or injury; or
among those which were acquired through some pathological
process; or among those which were acquired through some habit
of the individual.
In about one-third of all the abnormalities the origin was not
certain, and all these cases were included in the group which will
be marked " Origin questionable." The result of this part of the
analysis is shown by the following interesting figures:
The proportion of congenital abnormalities was in the white
males as 1.52 to each subject examined, or, approximately, there
were three of such abnormalities to each two white boys. Similar
proportions in the white females were 1.07 to each individual, or,
approximately, one to each child.
In the colored male and female the proportions were respectively
1.03 and 0.73 to each child.
Thus abnormalities of congenital origin are considerably more
frequent, in both white and colored males, than they are in the
females of the two classes.
Furthermore, congenital abnormalities in both sexes of the white
children are considerably more numerous than they are in the cor-
responding sexes of the colored subjects. The colored children are
born more free from physical defects than are the white children.
As to the abnormalities acquired through some pathological
process, we obtained the following proportions in the different
classes of children.
In the white male there were 0.56 of such acquired character to
each child, and about 1 such irregularity in each two individuals.
26 Anthropological Investigations.
In white girls the proportion is 0.50 to each child, or exactly 1 10
each individual.
In the colored male similar proportion is 0.88 to each individual,
which would make approximately two of such abnormalities in every
three boys; while in the colored female the number was 0.08 to
each child, which would make about three abnormalities to every
four children.
The figures just given show that acquired abnormalities through
pathological processes are, in opposition to congenital abnormali-
ties, considerably more frequent in the colored children of both
sexes than they are in the white.
In both classes of children we again notice a somewhat larger
proportion of the irregularities in the male children.
Of abnormalities acquired by habit the white males show 0.125
to each person, or 1 to 8 individuals; the white female children
0.04, or about 1 in 26 individuals. In the colored children similar
proportions were respectively 0.16 in the boys and 0.10. to each child
in the girls, or about 1 to 6 in the male and 1 to 9 in the female
individuals.
In both white and colored children, abnormalities acquired by
habit are seen to be more frequent in the boys than they are in the
girls, and in the negro children of both sexes the proportion ci
these characters preponderates over that found in the white children.
The characters whose origin is questionable are found in almost
equal proportions in the different classes of children; there are about
2 of such characters to 3 children, excepting the colored boys,
where the proportion was found only about 1 in 2 individuals.
To sum up in a few words the results of the data just given, we
find that on an average all classes of abnormalities predominate in the
male children, both white and colored. This predominance is especially
marked in the case of the irregularities acquired by habit.
The white and colored children differ in their abnormalities very re-
markably. The white children of both sexes possess on an average a
decidedly larger proportion of inborn abnormalities. On the other hand,
the negro children acquire in early life a larger percentage of irregu-
larities than the white children. These facts signify that while the
Hrdlicka. 27
white children are more likely to be begotten with physical deficiencies,
yet later in life they will not undergo so many pathological processes
which give rise to physical abnormalities, as will the negro children.
Rachitis seems to be particularly more frequent in the colored.
A large number of the lighter congenital abnormalities in no
way reflects badly on the individual's history, and dees not show any
predispositions of the child. Science has been as yet unable to trace
to their real causes such atypical characters or irregularities as those
of the ears, or those of the toes, or some of those of the teeth, the
palate or the uvula; and experience teaches plentifully that there is
but very little or no practical significance to these characters.
The sum total of my observations on the abnormalities of the
inmates of the New York Juvenile Asylum leads me to conclude,
as before stated, that we have here to deal with a class of children,
the large majority of whom, so far as physical abnormalities are
concerned, are fairly average individuals.
There are many irregularities in the children which are due .0
neglect and can and ought to be corrected.
A small proportion of the inmates apparently are the children of
unhealthy parents, as a result of which descendance they have fallen
subject to states of malnutrition or to rachitis, which conditions left
them with numerous physical abnormalities.
I found no single child, whom I could conscientiously term a
thorough physical degenerate.
To conclude this subject I will give here a table illustrating the
proportions of congenital and acquired abnormalities according to
the different parts of the body.
28
Anthropological Investigations.
Total of Abnormalities — White Males.
en
c
a
.ti 00
£
P o
a
<D O
C*&
S-2
rs rt
T3
qj r-c
<B
M
£S
5
<o
CO
C
o
O
«l
«4
U
74
15
Hair
26
15
51
2
25
68
20
7
59
54
14
1
72
1
1
10
15
221
67
51
88
14
5
60
275
873
Teeth
37
104
81
112
Boilv
2
11
1
Totals
324
72
390
40
1.52
10
4
18
.56
.12
.67
Total of Abnormalities — White Females.
StJ
O .
a
-*J °°
s
"5 »
.
a
c
* P
a
|.s
05 O
c*>
£■*
CSjq
,a
g £
'p ca
a
m c
C
P
o
§•1
a1
o
o
OS
0
O
< '
<D
o
Head
26
10
Scalp
i
Hair
17
1
11
8
17
i
3
40
1
4
6
Ears
88
19
41
3')
Teeth
27
23
Palate
44
6
3
18
9
54
Body
1
39
4
3
Totals
256
45~
120
9
173
21
1
30
1.07
.50
.003
.71
Hrdlicka.
29
Total of Abnormalities — Colored Males.
O 05
0
£ 5
a
0
« ~
ej
■^
—
•= a
•5
>j
COS
« ^
*s
* S
p
4>
'5 s
'5
0
Co
C
O
«<
<i
u
Head
5
1
11
10
7
1
4
20
Face
Ears
Teeth
3
10
4
13
1
Palate
4
1
Uvula
Bod>
10
3
12
27
63
54
10
31
3JT
~~ 34
6~
~ Ti>
1.03
^r
J6"
Total of Abnormalities — Colored Females.
«w
;
c .
^
a
0
"5.
&
'7 -
«5
= —
g>
&2
«
r- «
"2
rt S
O
'3 a
3
-
CO
c
O
O 05
0
O
<1
<
a
Head
2
1
4
3
3
2
Hair
1
8
1
Teeth
4
Palate
1
1
2
Bodv
Totals
14
13
2
34
31 J
4
.10
29
.73
.68 '
1
63
3o
Anthropological Investigations.
Lungs and Heart.
It will be well to add in this place the results of the examination
of the thoracic organs in the children.
It was rather a surprise to me not to find among the whole 1,000
children more than one case in which it could be positively said that
there existed a consolidation in some parts of the lungs. This case
was that of a small negro boy, who has since left the asylum ; he had
a consolidation of both apices. There were perhaps a dozen addi-
tional cases in which percussion sounds over the apices were not
as clear as they ought to be, but there were no rales audible, nor
were there present any other signs of a lung trouble in these indi-
viduals.
Notwithstanding the encouraging results of the examination of
the lungs of the inmates of the asylum, it is undoubtedly a fact that
a certain percentage of these children carry a predisposition to con-
sumption, and require additional care.
The heart was found to be entirely normal in 955 cases out of the
1,000 children examined. In 10 other cases the disturbance of the
organ was light and might have been but temporary. In the re-
maining- cases the disorders found were as follows:
Heart action abnormally rapid
Heart very slow (strong)
Heart very feeble
Heart action persistently irregular
Systolic murmur
liecided mitrel insufficiency
Cardiac hypertrophy
White.
Male. Female.
Colored.
Male. Female.
The colored children, as the preceding figures show, are much
more free from cardiac disorders than are the white children.
The disorders observed are undoubtedly, in the majority of the
cases, due to such conditions as general anaemia or neurasthenia,
and will disappear with the cure of the latter.
Of the few organic disorders of the heart, no one was of a congeni-
tal origin. !
Hrdlicka. 31
The proportion of disorders of the heart in the asylum children,
as expressed by the above figures, cannot be considered unusual.
Left-Handedness.
In addition to the preceding examinations an effort was made
to ascertain the number of left-handed individuals among the chil-
dren. There is no particular significance in the simple fact that a
person is left-handed, or at least we know as yet positively of no
such significance, and the investigations as to this point have up to
now been largely only statistical.
Among the 1,000 inmates' of the asylum there were 6 left-handed
boys and 4 left-handed girls. In some of these subjects the left-
handedness probably is more apparent than real as, in 2 of the
boys and 3 of the girls, notwithstanding the left-handedness, the
right arm was found to be the stronger.
Measurements of the Children.
The measurements of the children differ largely according to
age and hence they cannot be treated of fully before we approach
the second part of the report. The only facts which I can bring
forth advantageously in this place are a few notes on the shapes of
the heads, in several of the larger groups of children of different
nationalities. I will introduce these variations in the form of curves
which will show the various percentages of the different shapes of
heads in the different groups, but before I will give the curves.
I think it advisable to say a few words of explanation on the subject.
It has been found after extensive studies, mainly in France, Eng-
land and Germany, that the shape of the head differs quite remark-
ably, not only between people of different color, but also among fam-
ilies of the white race, and that these differences within certain limits
are quite stable with each such family. The shape of the head is
■determined principally by three measurements, namely the maximum
length, the maximum width and the height of the cranium. The
percentage derived by dividing the width by the length of the head
gives us what we call the cephalic index, which is a true expression
of the shape of the horizontal plane of the head. The lower the
figure of this cephalic index the more the skull approaches the
32 Anthropological Investigations.
shape of an oval, the higher the index the more the head is round.
In a general way all heads up to the index of 75 are termed long,
skulls from 75 up to 80 medium, and skulls above 80 short. This
explanation I think will add to the interest of the following curves
with those who have not had the opportunity to give special atten-
tion to anthropometry.
A glance over the curves shows that the shape of the head presents
in most of the white families here shown a considerable variation.
This variation bespeaks a far advanced mixture of the families. In
the Irish, the Italian and the German such mixture dates from cen-
turies ago and may even reach to prehistoric times. Thus the Irish
people of to-day result from the mixture of the ancient inhabitants
of Erin with the short-headed Kelt and the long-headed Scotchman.
The Germans of to-day are a combination of old long-headed Teu-
tonic tribes and of the short-headed Slav and Kelt. The Italians
are principally a mixture of Romans and Greeks, of short-headed
Lydians, and of long-headed Teutonic branches. The variety in
the shape of the head among the American children is a result of the
mixture of almost all the human families, members of which immi-
grated here, and is taking place at the present epoch.
The heads of the Russian and those of the Syrian children are
quite uniform, and these families of the white race are undoubtedly
purer than are any of those mentioned above. It ought to be re-
marked that the Russian children here represented were all except
one, Jews. 1
The colored children show a large proportion of long heads.
Most of the subjects with the shorter heads are not of African de-
scent, but from the West Indies.
■ ■ : :{-~:tv~t
■ -^ tVJfcM.
iWimv. W.T.LV. .WU.a
jUi^. U'Jtw™^
aMw TvlXalu-
WWIu ttt^uxiUu—
Hrdlicka.
33
PART II.
Detailed Study.
This part of the report could be made very extensive, but I will
restrict it to the most salient facts. Of necessity, I will have to
introduce here a number of tables of figures.
Inspection.
I have not much additional to say here about the abnormalities
found in the children. The following table will show the propor-
tions of abnormalities to the number of children found to present
some abnormality according to their different ages.
White Children.
AGE.
Number Examined.
Entirely Normal.
Children with
Abnormalities.
Proportion of
Abnormalities to
Number of
Children.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
5
2
15
38
56
62
98
99
93
86
53
20
9
3
2
10
34
42
45
52
40
14
19
10
4
1
1
1
3
4
16
5
9
10
7
3
3
5
8
7
9
2
1
1
15
38
53
58
82
94
84
76
46
17
9
3
2
10
31
37
37
45
31
14
17
9
4
1
1
1.00
2 93
2.82
3.15
3.31
2.80
2.57
2.78
2.88
2.78
2.88
(3.22)
(3.67)
4.00
6
2.00
7
2.26
8
2.41
9
2.59
10
2.11
11
2.19
12
2.21
13
2.35
14
15
2.89
2.50
16
(3. CO)
17
18
(2.00)
634
274
58
35
576
239
2.71
2.33
34
Anthropological Investigations.
Colored Children.
AGE.
Number Examined.
Entirely Normal.
Children with
Abnormalities.
Proportion of
Abnormalities
to Number of
Children.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Petnale.
5-
4
1
5
6
3
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
i
2
2
2
1
1
4
11
6
6
7
10
7
6
2
3
1
3
2
4
3
1
2
i2.00)
(3.00)
(3.00)
2.64
2.50
1.17
2.70
2.60
3.14
3.17
(2.00)
6
1
1
5
12
6
7
7
12
7
6
2
(2.00)
8
(3.00)
9
(1.67)
10
(2.00)
11
(2.50)
12
(1-67)
13
(2.00)
14
15
(3.00)
16
17
18
66
26
5
7
61
19
2.60
2.05
The proportions, it can be seen, show no very great variations.
The maximum of abnormalities is encountered in children of both
sexes at the ages of 8 and 9. In the female another maximum
was observed at 14, but this latter is in all probability an incorrect
figure, due to a small number of subjects involved. After 9 years
of age the proportion of abnormalities to every child drops suddenly
and further on shows only insignificant variations.
We do not encounter the same proportions of the same abnor-
malities in the children of different ages. In the younger children
there will predominate abnormalities of the teeth, of the gums, of
the face and of the lower limbs. The younger the child is, the more
frequently we find irregularities in dentition, massive gums, mon-
golic folds at the inner corners of the eyes, low nose, and curvatures
of the lower limbs. Curvatures of the long bones will diminish with
the age of the children and may finally almost disappear.
Mongolic folds at the inner canthi of the eyes are very much
more common in infants than they are in children above 6 years
of age, and eventually they also will disappear, except in a few
female subjects where they may persist throughout life. Massive
gums are the normal condition in very early childhood. After 8
years of age, and probably a little sooner, they can be considered
abnormalities. As we go on with the age of the children, massive
gums become less and less frequent, and after the puberty period
Hrdlicka. 35
they are among the rare abnormalities. The nose, which may be
very low, or very broad at the root in very early age, will gradually
assume ordinary proportions and lose its abnormal aspect, as the
child grows up.
On the other hand, certain abnormalities will increase in fre-
quency with the age of the children. Such is the case principally
with many of the abnormalities of the cranium, such as asym-
metries of the head and depressions or elevations along the
sutures. Asymmetries of the face are generally well derined during
childhood, and I am not satisfied whether or not there is any in-
crease in their proportion with the age. Abnormalities of the ears
become more marked and also increase somewhat in proportion
from infancy onward. All the habit abnormalities tend to increase
in proportion as we advance from early childhood. From my ob-
servations of adults and adolescents outside of the Institution, I think
that after the age of 15 or 16, these abnormalities tend again to
diminish, a certain proportion of them being spontaneously cor-
rected. Irregularities of the palate increase with age. About those
of. the uvula I am uncertain though they also seem to increase in
frequency with age. Certain abnormal gums do not become
manifest until after the subject has reached a certain age. Such is
principally the polygonal gum. Prognathism of the gums is also
not marked in early childhood; it begins to show from the fourth
year of childhood onward, not attaining its ultimate degree until
adult life.
The genital organs deserve special mention. Certain abnormal-
ities of these organs in the male, principally adhesions of the
prepuce, diminish very rapidly after the puberty period. Other
irregularities, principally those of the size of the organs, become
more manifest as the child grows older. The descent of the testi-
cles will be occasionally found to be retarded in young boys; it will
generally be accomplished before the age of puberty. In connec-
tion with this a care should be taken not to mistake testicles reflexly
drawn up for non-descended testicles.
A certain number of abnormalities, almost all of which are of
congenital origin, do not change in proportion with the age of the
children. Such characters are the different abnormalities of the
toes, the additional wmirls of hair, etc. Almost all of these char-
36
Anthropological Investigations.
acters, however, become better differenciated and more pronounced
with the age of their bearers.
I append here a table which gives the percentages of congenital
and other classes of the abnormalities of the children according to
their ages. The table suffers very much by the small numbers ;f
individuals represented in some of the divisions ; but it shows fairly
well the gradual diminution with age of the bulk of congenital de-
fects; the increase with age of the habit abnormalities; and the ex-
cess of the congenital defects in the male over the female. The pro-
portions of abnormalities which I included under " origin question-
able " increases much with the ages of the children; this increase
signifies that some of the characters whose origin I class as question-
able are really acquired. There were included in this class of abnor-
malities, principally, the very prominent occiput; the deflections of
the nose; the polygonal gums; most of the abnormalities of the
dentition and of the teeth; the high and the gothic palate, and the
deflected uvula.
Percentages of abnormalities according to their origin at different ages
of the white and colored children, male and female.
AGE.
"White Male.
White Female.
Colored Male.
Colored Female.
C
58
55
52
60
55
51
54
49
48
46
44
Ap
29
24
17
15
12
22
17
20
22
24
18
Ah
'8
3
3
4
4
30
6
6
9
11
j
11
12
27
22
23
23
25
24
21
24
37
C.
52
45
48
31
43
51
54
52
42
A p.
21
24
17
34
23
12
25
10
19
Ah
3
?
21
29
32
34
30
32
19
34
38
C.
33
50
39
31
16
61
46
36
21
Ap.
33
50
33
32
43
50
22
26
22
57
Ah.
16
1
13
10
>
33
50
16
28
18
16
11
19
27
10
C.
20
33
66
30
40
Ap.
40
50
50
40
Ah.
50
20
%
7
40
8
9
66
33
20
14
15
16
C — congenital. Ap.= acquired as a result of some pathological process. A h.= acquired
through habit. ? = origin uncertain.
Measures.
The results of the measuring when tabulated according to the
ages of the children proved to be of great interest, and the facts
that some of these tabulations clearly show are new. Some
disturbance in the figures was occasioned throughout by the small
numbers of subjects in some of the divisions, but these irregularities
Hrdlicka.
37
are apparent and do not affect the rules which the different columns
of figures demonstrate. I was further afraid that the numerous
nationalities of the children may prove a disturbing element in
the total results. Such disturbance, however, was noticed only
in the crude figures; the relations of the different data obtained
remained practically the same, whether only one group or all
of the white children were considered. I will here give each of the
measurements taken on the children arranged in a comprehensive
table adding only such remarks to each division as I think necessary
or advisable.
Height of the Children.
The group figures of this measure are much more than any other
affected by the nationality of the children. There is in the asylum
a very large number of Italian children, and these are generally
much smaller than are the American-born subjects. The Russian
children are also considerably smaller. In consequence the average
height of all the children taken together will not represent figures
fit to be compared with any figures obtained on subjects of a more
homogeneous nature. The value of the figures showing the average
height of the children of the Juvenile Asylum consists principally
in their being a basis for comparison with other measurements of
the same individuals. With the colored males and colored females
the figures given have a fuller value.
Height.
White Males.
White Females.
Colored Males.
Colored Females.
AGE.
o
■° a
si
CS a
o
>
<
•° 3
S 3
3 M
fc4'
bl.V
« s>
<
11
>
<
id
o
4>.K
11
8$
>
3
2
10
31
4?
45
5i
40
14
19
16
4
1
1
1
3
S
5
13
25
12
12
10
13
7
6
2
783mm.
2
2
4
2
9
5
10
8
9
3
1
2
2
839
2
15
38
56
62
98
99
93
86
53
20
9
3
l()04mm.
1060
1086
1130
118"
1267
1304
1357
1431
1495
1535
1198
906
5
961mm.
1051
1120
1152
1212
1248
1315
1362
14*1
1449
1162
1615
1654
1044
1101
1147
1196
1251
1271
1360
1381
1392
1505
14V5
1500
985
6
1091
7
1127
8
1260
9 ..
1257
10
11
1295
1307
12
1467
13
1477
14
1559
15
1545
17
18
1554
3«
Anthropological Investigations.
I have extracted the heights of children born in this country and
of American parentage and will give next the measurements of the
height of these children and, for a comparison, the heights of Boston
school children who were born in this country.*
Height of American-born Children — Males.
(1) Asylntn children. (2) Boston school children.
.
»
m
00
a
£
t*
u
n
CB
e«
C3
V
<B
<B
o
a
<L>
V
oj
^i
$**
o
^
CM
CO
m
in
to
b~
— '
~*
1-1
"
rt
—
(1) 971
1088
1172
1163
1234
1261
1315
1367
1424
1452
1518
1697
(2) 1060
1120
1174
1223
1272
1326
1372
1417
1477
1551
1599
1665
Females.
o>
(2) 1053
1101
1158
1204
1289
1290
1454
1450
1398
1109
1167
1221
1260
1315
1366
1452
1492
1532
1559
1567
The preceding table shows that the American-born children in the
Juvenile Asylum are on an average somewhat smaller at almost all
the ages than the free children of American parentage from the
schools of Boston. The comparison, however, is not fully satisfac-
tory. We ought to have a row of figures showing the height of the
American-born children of New York City instead of Boston.
The Boston population is principally composed of Americans and
Germans. A great many of the American people of Boston are of
English or German descent, and people of both these nationalities
are above the average in stature. The American-born population of
New York is composed principally of the German and Irish ele-
ments, but besides this there enters into it a large percentage of
Hebrews, principally of Russian or Polish origin; of Italians and
of people of other nationalities, and the average height of many of
these people is low. Thus it may be expected that the New York-
born American children would show a somewhat smaller average
stature than the children born in Boston. This point cannot, how-
ever, be here decided. The inmates of the Juvenile Asylum are on
an average undoubtedly of a somewhat subnormal height. It cannot
be otherwise upon pure physiological laws, with children who come
from the poorest classes of the population. A similar fact was found
*•' Massachusetts School Children," by Dr.
publication, 1877, 1890.
H. P. Eowditch, Mass. St. Board of Health
Hrdlicka.
39
by Dr. Franz Boas, who some years ago examined with Dr. West
numerous school children in Worcester, Mass. Dr. Boas informed
me that he found the children of poorer families to be on the average
perceptibly smaller than the children of well to do people.
The heights of Italian children, which follow, will be seen to be
considerably below the heights of not only the children of American
parentage, but also .below the average heights of all the children
together in the institution. I have no data at hand by which I could
show whether these Italian children are below the average in stature
of Italian children outside the asylum. If we should compare these
figures with figures obtained from Italian children in the city of New
York, we would hardly find great differences, as most of the Ital-
ians here are poor people.
Height — Italian Children.
£
w
•
to
u
as
a
cS
<B
®
0>
aj
o
■V
>,
>>
kv
t>>
'■-"i
"■">
•^i
H
c*
tt
-*<
in
o
t"
00
as
~*
*"
""'
T-t
'H
1025
1113
1131
1197
1234
1287
1337
1368
1226
1357
Females - . .
1058
1081
1109
1155
1246
1290
1336
1370
1483
Sitting Height.
Tables 4 and 5 will show the sitting height as obtained on the chil-
dren of the institution, and the proportions of the sitting height, or
of the length of the lower extremities, to the total height of the body.
The interest lies principally in these latter named proportions. A
glance at the figures will show that in both the white and the negro
children of small age the proportion of the length of the lower limbs
to the total height of the body is comparatively small, and that it
increases with considerable precision and regularity during all the
years up to and possibly even beyond the age of puberty. This
means that as a child advances in life its limbs are growing in pro-
portion somewhat more rapidly than its body. In a new born infant
the lower limbs are very short. The greatest length of the lower
limbs seems to be attained from the thirteenth to sixteenth years of
an individual. I have myself but a very few data on children older
than 16, but from Dr. West's report* on the Worcester school chil-
* Gerald Monteromery West, Arch, of Anthropol., XXII., p. 13 et seq.; in this connection
also Boas, The Growth of Children, Science, April g, '97.
40
Anthropological Investigations.
dren in Massachusetts, it would appear that after 15 or 16 years of
age the greater proportion of growth of the lower limbs ceases and
that from then onward, up to the end of the growing period, the
body seems to increase slightly in proportion to the lower extremi-
ties.
An interesting feature which can be observed in the above figures
is the greater proportionate length, by an average of about 1 per
cent., of the total body height of the lower limbs in the negro chil-
dren.
When I compare my sitting height indexes with similar indexes
obtained by Dr. West, it appears that the indexes of Dr. West's chil-
dren were at all ages somewhat smaller or that the lower extremities
in these children were at all ages somewhat longer than they are in
our children in the asylum. The difference amounts on an average
to from 1 to 1.5 per cent of the body height. These figures make me
think that it is possible that it is in the lower extremities where lies
the principal defect in the growth of the badly nourished children;
but I can say nothing positive on this point. Similar differences
exist, I have some reason to believe, between free, well nourished,
and asylum colored children.
Sitting Height.
White Males.
White Females.
Colored Males.
Colored Females.
AGE.
□
"m%.
be
0 '3
s-
a>
<
0
- £
-as
big
fa °
<
u
a
© '3
<
0
'5 3
■5
ba
R
g'S
c
>
<
Cm
O
■5 a
AS
*- 0
>
n
<D '3
U..S
a
>
O
ft m
"S S
■S'JZ
&|
a if
3 —
<
3
cm.
cm.
410
456
489
508
540
564
604
634
669
685
685
776
790
cm.
576
608
621
615
663
687
718
734
770
809
825
824
850
cm.
428
452
467
495
524
580
586
623
661
686
710
674
704
cm.
476
597
616
630
659
679
697
718
797
737
787
753
795
cm.
307
447
485
517
537
572
574
642
584
655
718
692
705
cm.
476
534
571
607
625
671
680
695
703
792
767
808
819
cm.
363
4
372
5
551
595
631
644
672
684
7L1
728
751
764
777
839
864
414
6
484
7
502
8
589
9
10
577
600
11
594
12
675
13
710
14
751
15
726
16
17 ..
18
Hrdlicka.
41
Propor
tions of Sitting Height to Height.
White Males.
White
Females.
Colored Males.
Colored
Females.
5- bo
0 P
° — '5
t. he
0 s
ft M
0 a
c* 5
*£?
Li +j ■
° — '3
Big
AGE.
43 •«
1,3 £ «
MS
a. >~
.2"S
x'5 £
Bo*
M -
1*8
M-S2
aT 03
.So'1'
<b *=> .
01 3 +=
re ?J
J J- fee
erage
rcent.
lower
8.
M 2 .**
CD ~ ®
re 0_o .
si?
03 t- —
® a *>
?oo -
® "S •
big-
re g.a
03 S- —
0; *- 03
re4§ ^
2 5,2 •
03 t- "?
t> i) 03
Sue
<4 c^
^ P~=
<1M
<q *•«-
60.8
39 2
59.5
58 9
40.5
4
41.1
5
57.4
42.6
57.3
42.7
57.3
42.7
57.9
42.1
6
56.6
43.4
57.4
42.6
55.9
44 1
55.6
44 4
7
56.3
43.7
57.2
42.8
54.9
45.1
55.4
44.6
8
55.9
44.1
56.2
43.8
55.1
44.9
53.3
46.7
9
55.3
44.7
55.9
44.1
54.2
45.8
54.1
45.9
10
54.6
45 4
54.2
44.8
54.9
. 45.1
53.7
46.3
11
54.0
46.0
55.0
45.0
52.8
47.2
53.8
46 2
12
53.5
46.5
54.1
459
57.7
47.3
54.0
46.0
13
52.9
47.1
53.8
46.2
52 9
47.1
51.9
48.1
14
52.7
47.3
5V1
45.9
52.3
47.7
51.8
48.2
15
53.1
46.9
53.7
46.3
51.7
48 3
53.0
47.0
16
52 0
48.0
55.0
45.0
53 0
47.0
17.....
52.2
47.8
54.7
45 3
The proportions of sitting height to total body height can be illus-
trated to further advantage when we cease to consider the ages of
the children and consider simply the stature. I give here two tables
which will show the sitting height index in its relation to every in-
crease of 50mm. in stature. It will be seen that the relation is quite
regular, and also that the greater length of the lower extremities in
•the colored children is equally true and even more pronounced
when we view the matter from this standpoint. I believe that to
consider this matter in this way is more important than to con-
sider the relation of sitting height to height simply on the basis of
the ages of the children, as we have done above, and as was gen-
erally done before by other observers. If similar proportions were
ascertained on large numbers of children and in different locations,
the data might prove not only of a physiological, but possibly also
of forsenic value. The maximum variation of the sitting height
index at any age was found not to exceed 8 points.
42
Anthropological Investigations.
Relations of Height to Height-? Sitting Height Index.
"White
Males.
White Eemales.
Colored Males.
Colored Females.
m
-a
73
*d
B
ri
£
•a
p
O
O
a
o
15s
A
|£°
ft
15s
ft
5s
p.
HEIGHT IN
3 •
£ *
&rA
s k
H
£ *
m«
8 *
MM.
O 3
II
=t- 3
8.2
ol
°.9
=4-1 3
§1
a
M>5
- a
tt.S
!- p
CD--*
beg
- B
S£p
a
.a
a
OS
u
o
3
03
4)
3
s
t*
3
3
k
Sz;
<
Szs
"4
tz3
«J
£
-4
750 to 800...--
1
60.8
1
59.9
800 to 850
1
59.1
850 to 900
1
58.9
900 to 950
59.05
950 to 1000
3
57.7
6
57.7
1
59.0
1
58.4
1000 to 1050
17
57.4
12
57.9
4
57.6
5
55.6
1050 to 1100
29
56.2
37
56.9
2
55.8
2
55.0
1100 to 1150
39
56.7
32
56.8
11
55.2
4
56.1
1150 to 1200 ..
62
55.9
27
55.9
8
55.0
7
54.9
1200 to 1250
73
55.4
48
55.3
12
54.2
6
53.9
1250 to 1300
78
54.5
22
55.0
i 16
54.9
9
53.7
1300 to 1350
105
53.9
29
54.6
16
53.4
12
53.4
1350 to 1400
74
53.6
24
54.4
17
52.9
8
52.1
1400 to 1450
66
53.3
12
53.6
11
52 4
1
53.4
1450 to 1500
44
52.8
11
54.1
8
52.4
2
53.6
150(1 to '.550
18
52.1
10
53 9
4
52.4
3
52.7
1550 to 1600
11
52.1
4
53.2
3
51.2
2
52.9
1600 to 1650
8
52.0
1
52.7
1
50.9
1650 to 1700
4
ftl.8
1700 to 1750....
1750 to 1800 ...
1800 to 1850....
2
51.5
1
50.0
Weight.
All the children were weighed in their undergarments and subse-
quently the weight of these was subtracted from the total weight of
the subject. In consequence our figures show the absolute weight
of the children and the data are more correct than similar data ob-
tained from children weighed in all their clothing.
The weight in children does not bear a constant relation to the
height, and is much more equal in children of different nationalities
than is the height measure. I place next to the averages of weight
obtained on all the children the averages, first, of American-born
children, and second, those of Italians. We will find no such great
differences in the two classes of children as we found with the
heiefht.
Hrdlicka.
43
Weight.
AGE.
Average Weights.
Weights of
American Born.
Weights
of Italians.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
5
33
40
45
47
53
57
64
70
SI
84
85
115
122
34
40
42
45
52
60
65
72
84
97
112
114
33
41.8
46.8
46.5
52
57.1
64
70
77.6
81.7
96
140
43.7
46
54
61.2
60
81
74
72
38.8
44.7
46.2
53
56.3
61.8
68.9
72
85
76
6
39
7
41.3
8
43
9
51
10
57.5
11
65.3
12
72.1
13
79
14
102
15
16
104
If we desire to compare the weight of the inmates of the Juvenile
Asylum with weight of children outside of the institution we have
again the data collected in Boston from school children by Dr.
Bowditch and those collected in Worcester by Drs. West and Boas.
In both of these cases the weights are quite similar and hence only
one need be stated for comparison. In both cases, however, the chil-
dren were weighed in their clothing, which, according to Bowditch,
whose figures we will state, amounted in average to 7.99 per cent, of
the total weight in the boys and 6.81 per cent, of the total weight in
the girls. If we should reduce these percentages of pounds from the
weight of the Boston school children we should find that the weight
was much nearer to the average weight of the children in the Juven-
ile Asylum. Nevertheless it would still be somewhat greater. The
excess is undoubtedly due to the same causes to which was due the
smaller stature in the asylum children, namely, to mal-nutrition re-
sulting from the poverty of the parents of the children.
Weight— Males.*
(1) Average weight of asylum children. (2) Average weight of Boston school children.!
00
00
05
0Q
to
--
tS
a
03
CS
a
<s
CD
0.
<D
o
C*s
to
>>
I>i
ka
>s
C*l
-•*
lO
to
t~
o
*"
00
OS
70
(1) 33
40
45
47
53
57
64
81
84
85
115
122
(2) 41.9
45.17
49.07
53.9
59.2
65.3
70.18
76.9
84.84
94.91
107.10
121
127.49
All nationalities, t Weight of clotbiDg not deducted.
44
Anthropological Investigations.
Weight — Females. "
(1) Average weight of asylum children. (2) Average weight of Boston school children. t
CO
go
s-
N
eg
«
CS
a
03
es
01
Qi
t>!
(->
>,
**■•
[>->
'***
o
<M
re
m
~
""
""'
"
'-'
(1)31
40
42
45
52
60
65
72
84
97
112
114
(2)39.6
43.3
47.4
52
57
62.3
68.8
78.3
88.6
98.4
106
112
The average weight of the negro children in the asylum was
found to be at most ages slightly smaller than was the average
weight of white children. How far this fact is correct in general
could only be ascertained by much additional investigation. The
fact is that white children, particularly white girls, show, at least up
to the age of puberty,- more adipose tissue over their body than do
the colored children.
Pressure and Traction Force.
In connection with the weight I investigated the force of the hands
and arms of the children, so far as this can be ascertained by a cor-
rect dynamometer. I have tested the pressure in each hand, as well
as the traction force of both arms together, taking as usual only the
average of three measurements for the records. As the force was
found to differ slightly according to the time of the day at which
tested, all of the tests were made at similar hours, that is, in the
afternoon.
The figures which I give below show first of all, that average trac-
tion force in the children is always considerably smaller than is the
pressure force in either hand.
In the second place we see the pressure force in the right hand to
be at most ages greater than is the pressure force of the left hand.
In individuals there are numerous exceptions to this rule. We find
many children in whom the pressure force is either equal in both
hands, or is even greater in the left than in the right. The greater
pressure force in the left hand was not observed to be associated with
left-handedness of the child, except in a few instances. About half
of the number of left-handed children on the other hand, were
All nationalities, t Weight of clothing not deducted.
Hrdlicka.
45
stronger in the right hand. Left-handedness is apparently more a
nervous phenomenon than muscular.
In the third place we notice an almost regular annual increase in
the force of the children. This is particularly the case in the white
male children, where the average annual increase in pressure force
amounts to about 4 pounds. The traction force increases only about
2 pounds annually, and the disproportion between the pressure and
traction forces of the child grows with the age of the individual.
In the negroes, both the pressure and traction force were found
to exceed at all ages similar forces in the white children. This is
the more remarkable as we saw that the average weight of the
colored subject was at almost all ages less than that of the white
children in the asylum. The fact speaks for a greater proportionate
muscularity of the colored subjects; this condition was well appre-
ciable during the inspection of the children.
Average Pressure Force in Right Hand of the Children, According to
the Color, Sexes and Ages.
AGE.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
5 .
10
14
18
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
. 48
68
74
8
14
12
16
18
24
26
32
36
42
44
50
42
16
22
22
26
30
32
44
38
54
50
53
6
7
12
8
14
9
28
10
24
11
32
12 .
40
13
44
14
42
15 . . .
50
16
17
18
46
Anthropological Investigations.
Average Pressure Force in Left Hand of the Children, According to
Color, Ages and Sexes.
AGE.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
10
12
16
18
24
26
30
34
38
40
46
64
72
6
14
12
16
16
22
24
32
32
40
42
50
38
12
20
22
26
28
32
40
36
50
45
48
12
12
26
22
26
38
42
40
48
Average Traction Force of the Children, According to Color, Sexes
and Ages.
White.
Colored.'
AGE.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
6
10
12
14
18
20
24
24
28
28
32
44
40
4
10
10
10
12
16
18
20
22
26
24
22
30
8
14
14
18
22
24
28
26
36
31
30
8
8
16
16
20
20
30
24
34
The pressure and traction powers can be studied a point further.
We can study the relations of these items to the weight of the chil-
dren. The next table will show such relations in both the white and
colored children grouped together. The figures show that the
younger the child is, the smaller is its proportionate force in pounds
to each pound of the weight of its body. Curiously, there is a dis-
tinct and persistent annual increase in this proportion, and when we
reach the seventeenth year of life we find that the proportion of mus-
Hrdlicka.
47
cular power in the hands and arms of the individual to his body-
weight has about doubled.
With the colored individuals we observe the interesting fact that
at almost all ages there exists in these children a greater propor-
tionate strength to each pound of the body than is the case with the
white children.
The relations of force to weight here exposed may give rise to
much speculation as to their real causes.
Relations of Pressure and Traction Force, in Pounds, to Each Pound
of Weight, in Children of the Different Color and Sexes, and
According to Age.
AGE.
5
0.30
6
0.35
7
0.40
8
0.42
9
0.45
10
0.49
11
0.50
12
0-51
13
0.50
14
0.52
15
0.56
16
0.59
17
0.61
18
Pressure Force on
Right Hand, Relation
in Pounds to Each
Pound of Weight.
SB
0.23
0.35
0.29
0.36
0.35
0.40
0-44
0.53
0.45
0.50
0.51
0.40 | 0.50
0.44
0.43
0.43
0-39
0.43
6. 40
0.63
0.52
0.57
0.61
0.56
0.31
0.35
0.47
0.40
0.53
0.37
0.47
0.42
0.41
Pressure Force on
Left Hand, Relation
in Pounds to Each
Pound of Weight.
£ 5
0.30
0.30
0 36
0.38
0.45
0.46
0.47
0.49
0.47
0.48
0.54
0.56
0.59
OS
£ 3
2=8
2.
23
o
"o
O
0.18
0.35
0.33
0.29
0.49
0.36
0 45
0.31
0.50
0.37
0.47
0.37
0.50
0.44
0.57
0.38
0.49
0.41
0.53
0.37
0.56
0.43
0.51
6"36
.... |
s£
0.31
0.30
0.44
0.37
0.43
0.36
0.45
0.40
0.40
Traction Force, Rela-
tion in Pounds to Each
Pound of Weight.
2
0.18
0.25
0.24
0.30
0.34
0.35
0.37
0.34
0.31
0.33
0.38
0.38
0.33
6
'a
2 S
23
o
O
0.12
0.25
0.22
0.23
0.34
9.22
0.29
0.23
0.35
0.27
0.37
0.27
0.37
0.28
0.40
0.26
0.36
0.27
0.38
0.21
0.38
0.19
0.32
0^28
5=H
0.21
0.20
0.27
0.27
0.33
0.19
0.32
0.24
0.28
Arm Expanse.
The arm expanse was not found to differ to any great extent in
the white children according to their different nationalities; it offers
only individual variations. In the negroes the average arm expanse
is greater at all ages.
In both the white and the negroes the arm expanse increases with
the age of the children. Up to 9 years of age in the white boys
and up to 1 1 years of age in the white girls the arm expanse is less
than the total body height. In the negro children this is the case up
to the seventh year of life. From 9 and 11 years on, in the white
48
Anthropological Investigations.
males and females, and from 7 years on, in the colored individuals,,
the arm expanse begins to surpass the body height, and the increase
advances slightly with every year of life. This advance is more
marked in the negroes.
A part of the increase of the arm expanse is not due to a greater
growth of the arms themselves, but to the lateral growth of the
thorax. This growth of the chest does not fully account for the
differences in the arm-spread between the white and the negro
children, and the arms of the colored individuals must be considered
as really slightly longer than are those of the whites. I subjoin
here a table which will illustrate the gradual increase of the pro-
portion of the arm expanse to the total height in the different
classes of children.
Per Cent. Relation of Average Arm Expanse to the Average Height,
according to the ages of the Children.
White.
Colored.
AGE.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
(96.7)
99.0
98.4
99.1
100.2
100.3
100.1
100.8
100.6
101.3
101.5
101.7
101.8
97.1
98.2
98.6
98.7
99.1
99.5
99.8
100.4
100 7
102.2
(100 0)
(102.1)
(98.8)
(99.6)
101.1
102.8
101.8
101.2
104.1
104.5
105.5
104.5
(107.1)
101.5
8
(98.6)
101.9
101.0
105.0
(98.7)
(105. 5>
(102.1)
(105.4)
Measurements of the Chest.
After experimenting with various chest measurements it was
found that the best satisfaction is obtained by restricting the meas-
urements to diameters and taking these in all the children at the
height of the nipples. The instrument with which the measurements
were taken was a pair of accurate aluminum sliding compasses, with
branches with broad surfaces. In measuring, the branches of the
compass were applied not simply to touch the skin but until they
met with a marked resistance on the body. Care was taken that the
Hrdlicka. i 49
instrument should always be held diagonally to the long axis of the
body. With care, measurements of this nature become quite accu-
rate and satisfactory.
The results of the measuring, as will be seen from the appended
figures, show first of all the growth of the chest during the different
ages of the children.
In the second place, the figures demonstrate the differences which
exist in the two proportions of the chest of the same height between
the males and the females and between the white and the colored
children.
Finally, calculations were made of the relation of the antero-
posterior to the lateral diameter of the thorax at the different ages
of the subjects measured, and these proportions or thoracic indexes,
show the regular form of the chest, and the variations of this form,
in the different ages of the children.
The size of the chest is greater on an average at all ages in the
male than it is in the female children. This is the case in both the
white and the colored subjects. When, however, we come to the
females above 1 1 years of age, where the development of the breasts
begins, the proportions of the chest will increase in the female and
may surpass those of the male of the same age. This increase in
depth of the female chest at or after puberty is due to additional
deposition of fat and not to any changes in the osseous thorax.
In the colored children the chest is of very nearly the same size
in the boys, but is somewhat smaller in the girls, than it is in cor-
responding sexes of white children. In both the colored boys and
girls the chest is a little deeper than it is in the white children of
corresponding sexes and ages. This difference lies in the thoracic
cage itself.
The chest index shows at least one very interesting feature. In
all classes of children the thorax is seen to be considerably deeper
in early childhood than it is later. The increase of flatness takes
place gradually and almost regularly through all the ages of the
children, so far as our records go, with the exception of the females
after the breast development takes place. The indices show very
well the somewhat deeper character of the chest in the negro chil-
dren, particularly the males. The flattening of the chest is most
5o
Anthropological Investigations.
rapid according to our figures between 3 and 7 years of age. This
should probably read up to 7 years of age, as in the new-born
infants the chest is almost equal in itsanterio-posterior and its lateral
diameter and it has already flattened considerably at the age of
three, at which our figures begin.
Chest.
White.
Colored.
AGE.
DIAMETER ANTERO-
POSTERIOR AT
THE HEIGHT OF
THE NIPPLES.
DIAMETER LATERAL
AT THE HEIGHT OF
THE NIPPLES.
DIAMETER ANTERO-
POSTERIOR AT
THE HEIGHT OF
THE NIPPLES.
DIAMETER LATERAL
AT THE HEIGHT OF
THE NIPPLES.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
5
12.55
13 74
14.27
14.28
14.56
14.83
15.24
15.68
16.13
16.78
16.94
18.53
18.83
11.95
13.31
13.14
13.39
13.93
14.26
14.59
14.35
15.74
17.07
17.38
16.40
15.70
17.10
18.73
19.63
19.87
20.59
21.07
21.64
22.31
23.07
23.70
24.42
27.16
26.13
17.25
18.22
18 56
19.05
19.92
20.82
21.24
21.83
23.03
23.79
25.10
25.50
23.40
13.20
13.10
14.94
14.83
15.07
15.24
15.41
15.77
17.46
16.32
17.20
12.65
14.30
14.18
13.40
14.18
17.15
16.20
15.95
17.45
""i7!40
18.10
19.56
20.10
21.00
21.23
21.90
22.43
24.07
22.95
24.55
7
18.00
8
17.40
9
20.64
10
19.70
11
12
13
20.45
24.15
24.40
14
15
16
22.80
25.20
Average Chest Index of
Children According to the Color, Sexes
and Ages.
White.
Colored.
AGE.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
5
6
(73.4)
73.4
71.9
72.0
70.8
70.0
70.5
70.3
70.0
70.8
69.3
68.4
(67.9)
(69.2)
73.0
70.2
70.3
70.0
69.4
68.7
65.4
68.4
71.6
(69.0)
(79.5)
(72.4)
72.3
74.1
71.6
72.8
70.6
69.6
72.5
71.3
(70.0)
7
(.68 . 6)
9
68.7
10
(68.0)
11 ..
69.2
12
(70.9)
14
(70.0)
15 .
(69.2)
The number of colored subjects represented in the above figures
is small. If we include in this table, for the purpose of finding out
with more certainty the relations of the chest index between the
Hrdlicka.
51
white and colored children, the data obtained on 100 additional
colored children, obtained in the New York Colored Orphan Asy-
lum, we obtain the following proportions:
Average Chest Index of the Children, According to the Color, Sexes and
Ages, including the 100 Additional Children, from the N. Y, Colored
Orphan Asylum.
AGE.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
79.3
Female.
3
86.1
79.8
76.1
76.6
70.4
68.7
68.9
69.2
69.6
70.9
4
5
(73.4)
73.4
71.9
70.2
70.8
70.0
70.5
70.3
70.0
70.8
69.3
68.4
67.9
(69.2)
73.0
70.2
70.3
70.0
69.4
68.7
65.4
68.4
71.6
69.0
75.1
75.8
74.5
73.6
73.3
72.2
72.0
69.3
69.6
72.5
71.3
70.0
S
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
70.0
69.2
15
16
17
Measurements of the Head.
The principal diameters of the head differ largely according to
the nationalities of the children and even in individuals. The main
value of such dimensions of the head as the anterio-posterior or the
lateral maximum diameters, and the height, lies in the correlation of
same and in the resulting indices. The main value of the tables
which show the individual measures, consists in the possibility of
tracing the proportions of increase in these measures with the ages
of the children, and then they show the differences in the averages
between the males and the females, and between the white and the
colored children.
The cephalic indices of the principal groups of the children in the
asylum were already given at the end of the first part of these inves-
tigations. I add here the average indices calculated from age to age
on all the children. These figures show the changes of the cephalic
index with age. The relations of the length and of the width to
the height of the head show nothing very extraordinary and as they
would involve much additional technicalities, they will not be intro-
duced here.
52
Anthropological Investigations.
If we observe the averages of the different diameters in the fol-
lowing tables, we notice that the increase with age does not take
place in all of them in the same way. The maximum anterio-
posterior diameter increases most, the maximum lateral diameter the
least with the ages of the children. Thus, as children grow older
their heads become relatively longer and their cephalic indices
diminish. This fact is established by other observations on children,
principally by Dr. Boas' investigations.
The measurements of the female head are throughout the smaller.
Besides this, the differences jn the lateral diameter of the head,
between the two sexes of the children, are smaller in the female than
are the differences in the two sexes in the anterio-posterior diameter.
These facts show that the female head is totally smaller and, besides
that, slightly more rounded than is the male head. :
When we calculate the size of the head in proportion to the height
of the body we still find that the female head is the smaller. The
greater roundness of the female head is general in all races of people
and at all ages.
The negro heads show, in the three principal diameters, a slight
excess in size over the same measures in the white children; but we
should remember that the colored children are found to be of an
average greater height, which may account for the greater size of
their head and of these diameters.
Average Diameter Antcro-Posterior Max. of the Head of the Children,
According to Color, Sexes and Ages.
AGE.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Female.
17.08
17.27
17.34
17.55
17.69
17.72
17.97
17.91
18.05
18.16
18.18
18.77
18.53
16.60
16.78
17. C6
16.91
17 35
17.53
17.49
17.85
17.87
17.85
18.10
18.80
18.10
17.00
18.20
18.08
18.35
17.85
18.09
18.23
18.62
18.91
18.63
18.10
17.50
(16.00)
17.62
17.90
17.83
18 58
18.90
18.75
18.20
Hrdlicka.
53
Average Diameter Lateral Maximum of the Head of the Children,
According to Color, Sexes and Ages.
White.
COLOBED.
AGE.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
13.75
13 94
14.18
14.27
14.33
14.36
14.40
14.51
14.61
14.66
14.75
14.83
14.83
14.00
13.50
13.88
13.88
14.08
14.03
14.06
14.09
14.25
14.26
15.15
14.90
"i3!60
13.60
13.30
13. 88
13 87
13.52
14.21
14.27
14.15
14.31
14.23
14 25
13.52
13 10
13.84
13.70
13.53
14.27
14.20
14.10
14.80
Average Height of the Head of the Children, According to Color, Sexes
and Ages.
"White.
Colored.
AGE.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
12.40
12.71
12.72
12.76
12.78
12..81
12.84
12.96
12.97
13.07
13.02
13.38
13.32
11.60
12.09
12.25
12 00
12.45
12.47
12.46
12.47
12.47
12.68
12 66
13.35
12.90
12.50
13.10
12.85
12.75
12.65
12.86
12.81
13.25
13.22
13.14
12.65
12.50
12.30
12.53
12.45
12.40
12.53
12.65
12.45
12.73
54
Anthropological Investigations.
Average Cephalic Index of the Children According to Color, Sexes
and Ages.
AGE.
"White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
80.5
80.7
81.7
81.2
81.0
81.0
80.1
81.0
80.9
80.7
81.1
79.0
80.0
84.3
80.8
81.3
82.1
81.1
80.0
80.4
78.9
79.7
79-8
83.7
79.2
75.1
80.0
73.1
76.7
75. G
76.8
78.5
78.3
76.0
75.8
76.3
78.7
77.2
81.9
78.5
76.5
75.8
76.8
75.1
75.2
81.3
The relative size and growth of the head can be illustrated in
addition by the measure of the circumference of the head and by
the so-called Smith's Module.
The circumference of the head is not a very favored measure in
anthropology. The reasons for this are that it is often interfered
with by the amount of hair of the individual measured, and that it
has no relation to the height of the head, which may differ very
widely. In children, where the height of the head does not differ as
much as it does in adults, and where the hair forms but a very little
obstacle to measuring, the circumference is a fairly valid measure.
It shows by all means the gradual increase of the head with age of
the children, and the differences in the size of the head among the
different classes of children.
Hrdlicka.
55
Average Head Circumference Maximum of the Children, According
to Color, Sexes and Ages.
AGE.
White.
Colored.
Male.
50.20
51.67
51.38
51.61
51.97
52.03
52.50
52.58
53.00
53.37
53.30
54.82
53.93
Female.
Male.
Female.
_
49.35
49.13
50.20
49.80
50.78
51.31
51.12
51.92
51.93
52.81
54.30
54.80
50.50
51.80
52.32
52.60
51.15
52.49
53.06
53.77
54.27
54.10
52.75
50.80
47.60
9 :;:::;;:::::::::::::::::
52.34
52.55
50.13
54.40
53.70
53.10
54.40
The module of Smith is a term applied in anthropometry to an
abstract number which is obtained by adding together the greatest
length, the greatest width and the height of the head and divid-
ing the resultant by 3. The figure obtained, although not express-
ing any real size of head, is nevertheless a very useful substitute for
the real size or capacity of the cranium and is very useful in com-
parisons. Our table below, which gives the average modules of the
different classes of children, shows how well we can trace the differ-
ences in the size of the head through these abstract figures. I pre-
fer the module for this purpose to everything except the real cranial
capacity, which, of course, can only be obtained on skulls.
Average Modules of the Head of the Children According to Color,
Sexes and Ages.
White.
Colored.
AGE.
Male.
14.28
14.64
14.78
14.85
14.94
14.96
15.03
15.12
15.19
15.30
15.31
15.65
15.56
Female.
Male.
Female.
14.07
14.14
14.39
14.35
14.60
14 67
14.67
14.80
14.84
14.93
15.29
14.94
15.00
14.67
15.05
14.78
15.31
15 38
15.22
15 00
14.51
14.66
14.70
14.57
15.12
15.04
15.28
56
Anthropological Investigations.
There are two more measurements of the head which deserve
mention. The one is the Bin-Auricular diameter of the head, which
shows the width of the head at about the height of the base of the
brain and immediately in front of the ears, and the diameter frontal
minimum, which shows the width of the base of the forehead. Ac-
cording to our figures, which are given below, the Bin-Auric Diame-
ter differs much less in the two sexes of the children than is the case
with any other measurement of the head that we have so far spoken
of. In the colored children this diameter is always smaller than in
the white children of corresponding ages; thus the skull of the negro
child is absolutely narrower in this location, that is at the height of
the base of the brain and immediately in front of the ear, than it is
in white children.
Average Diameter Bin-Auric of the Children According to Color,
Sexes and Ages.
AGE.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
5
10.65
10.96
11.33
11.42
11.45
11.56
11.68
11.84
12.00
12.11
12.07
12.51
12.53
10.60
10.92
11-U8
11-25
11.43
11.63
11.77
11.83
12.02
12.33
12.58
11.80
12.00
10.80
11.00
11.30
12.99
11.30
11.73
11.64
11.71
12-04
11.85
12.20
6
10.98
8
10.50
9
11.18
10
11.25
11
11.30
12
12.17
13
12.00
14
12.25
15
12.40
16..
17
18
The diameter frontal minimum increases gradually with the ages
in all of the children. The measure is generally smaller on the
female heads. As to the differences in this measure between the
white and the negroes our figures cannot be taken as conclusive as
we have a too small a number of the colored children. Up to eleven
years of age, according to our figures, the forehead of the negro
child, both male and female, is on the average somewhat narrower
than the forehead of the white child. After eleven years of age the
conditions seem to be somewhat reversed. I am inclined to believe,
Hrdlicka.
57
if I consider all my observations on negroes together, that the aver-
age width of the forehead is generally slightly smaller in these than
it is in the white people. In connection with the fact that the whole
head of the negro is not smaller, this point would deserve a further
investigation.
Average Diameter Front Minimum of the Children, According to Color,
Sexes and Ages.
AGE.
White.
Colored.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
5
9.10
9 73
9.78
9.84
10.07
9.97
10.14
10.05
10.20
10-29
10.24
10 62
10.23
9.45
9.35
9.53
9.59
9.70
9.86
9. S3
10.13
10 06
10.27
10.45
10.30
9.50
9.40
9 90
9.95
9.72
10.11
10.26
10.78
10.55
10.33
10.10
6
9 37
8
9 00
9
10
9 90
11
9.73
12
13
14
15
10.70
16
The preceding figures conclude the study of the measurements
of the children of the Juvenile Asylum. To review a few principal
facts, these measures show that all the children of the institution
taken as a class are apparently somewhat below the average of free,
well nourished children in their growth.
The asylum children are of a somewhat smaller stature and smaller
weight than are outside children that are available for comparison.
It would be very interesting in this connection to know the differ-
ences between the children as they enter here and when they leave;
perhaps it may be possible to learn this in future. Our measure-
ments of the heads of the children show no great discrepancies from
what we know is about the normal. There is good reason to be-
lieve that the majority of the inmates of the institution owe their
slight physical inferiority only to malnutrition and neglect and not
to inherent physical inferiority. These subjects cannot be excluded
from the general average class of children. There is, however, a
number of individuals here heavily charged with bad heredity, and
58 Anthropological Investigations.
their physical inferiority is to be referred to this inheritance; these
individuals are exceptional.
Besides the above we have obtained some remarkable differences
in the measurements of the white and the negro subjects. These
data, even if they cannot be considered as decisive from these
studies alone, are nevertheless valuable indications of the physical
differences between the two classes of children.
Hrdlicka. 59
PART III.
Physical Differences Between White and Colored Chil-
dren of the Same Sexes and Ages.
The differences between the two classes of children may, in
a resume, be arranged into those which were observed equally in
both sexes, and those which are prevalent in either the boys or the
girls. Some of the characters in which the white and the black
children differ were fairly well brought out in preceding parts of
this study and will receive here but a passing notice. Other differ-
ences have not as yet been mentioned, and these will receive more
consideration.
Differences Without Regard to the Sex or Age of the
Children.
In a general way it can be stated that the white children present
more diversity; the negro children more uniformity in all their nor-
mal physical characters. This becomes gradually more marked as
the age of the children advances.
As to physical abnormalities, those of congenital origin are much
less frequent in the negro child than they are in the white one; with
acquired abnormalities, principally the results of rachitic conditions,
the case is almost the reverse, those characters being less frequent in
the white children.
In detail we find the following differences between the two classes
of children:
Size of the Body.
The average height of the colored child is in all ages from one to
three mm. greater than is the average height of white children, all
the nationalities of these latter being taken together; it is still
slightly greater when compared with the average height of only the
American-born children, who are taller than the children of most
other nationalities.
60 Anthropological Investigations.
The average weight, unlike the height, is greater in the white chil-
dren at all ages up to puberty; beyond puberty, particularly in the
girls, the colored subjects seem to gain in weight more rapidly than
do the white ones.
The size of the head is, on the average, slightly smaller in the
negro children than it is in the white, provided we consider the size
of the head in its relation to the size of the body. There are indi-
vidual exceptions to this rule.
The form of the head is less variable in the colored children than
it is in the American-born white children. A pure American colored
child shows generally a pronounced dolichocephaly, whilst the nor-
mal white American child will show us everything from a marked
long head to a pronounced brachycephaly. West Indies negro
children are more frequently short-headed than those of North
American origin.
The hair of the pure negro child is quite lusterless and as a rule
either curly or wavy, by far more frequently the former than the lat-
ter. The proportion of wavy hair increases largely in mixed sub-
jects and the same is true about luster of the hair. In white chil-
dren, those of American origin especially, curly hair is found very
seldom, and the curls always differ from those of the negro; they
possess luster and will never show compact rouleaux arrangement.
We do find curly hair among Jewish children and children born in
southern European countries, and occasionally also among Teutonic
people. Wavy hair is quite common among Jewish and Syrian
subjects.
The forehead is on the average narrower at all ages in the negro
child than it is in the white. The height of the forehead, however,
is not smaller in the colored subject, and is occasionally even greater
than it is in some of the white children.
The face of the colored children is generally more prognathic than
is that of white children. The prognathism is both facial and
alveolar.
The malar bones are somewhat more prominent in the colored
child, but the difference is not so great as that which may be ob-
served between a child of a yellow race and a white one.
The nose of the negro is frequently shorter and generally lower
Fig. 12.— A characteristic negro ear: small size, overhanging, compressed helix.
Hrdlicka. 61
and broader than the nose of the white child. These differences in-
crease somewhat with the age of the children.
The lips of the colored subjects are very prominent. This is
partly due to the greater prognathism of the alveolar processes, but
besides this the lips of the colored children are substantially thicker
than are those of white children.
The mouth is broader and it is also more spacious antero-posteri-
orly in the negroes. This is due to the fact that in the colored
child the palate is more spacious and longer than it is in the white.
The teeth of the negro children are often stronger than are those
of white individuals. Irregularities in the setting of the teeth, which
are so frequent in white children, are quite rare among the colored.
Dentition in the colored is more regular.
The uvula is frequently shorter and stouter in the colored
than it is in the white children, and is less frequently deflected in
the former.
The lower jaw is often somewhat higher and the lower maxilla a
little stronger in the colored subjects than it is in the white.
The ears of the colored deserve special notice. They show in
many cases a marked and almost specific character, which is but
rarely seen in the white. This character consists in that the helix is
bent on itself and compressed at the highest fourth of the ear. The
negro ear is also generally somewhat smaller in all its dimensions
than the white one. In a certain proportion of cases the ears of the
colored children are broader in the lower half than they are in the
upper.
The body shows marked differences in the two classes of children,
and some of these differences are more marked in children of cer-
tain ages than they are in adults. These differences are more
marked in the female children than in the male.
In general the body of the negro child shows less adipose tissue
and greater muscular development. The average strength in each
arm, as measured by the dynamometer is greater, not only at all
ages of the colored children, but also when calculated in proportion
to every pound of weight of the body.
The pelvis of the colored child is more inclined forwards than
that of the white child, and this is equally true in both sexes.
62 Anthropological Investigations.
The arms of the colored child are longer than those of the white,
and the arm-spread relatively to the height of the body is greater.
Both hands and feet, but especially the feet, are longer in the
colored than they are in the white child. The feet are flatter in the
colored. The thighs of the negro child show a remarkable difference
from those of the white. They appear not unlike the thighs of a
frog, being most prominent in the middle. This character is due
largely to a higher forward and outward curvature of the thigh
bone in the colored.
The calves are somewhat smaller in the negro child than they are
in the white one.
Differences Peculiar to Boys.
The negro boy is generally well built, lean and muscular. The
body, unlike that of many normal white boys, and unless deformed
by disease, is plastic, straight and symmetrical. His chest is a little
deeper.
The pelvis of the colored boy is more inclined and in consequence
of this the lumbar curve is more pronounced, and the buttocks more
prominent.
The penis of the colored boy is generally longer than that of a
white boy of corresponding age or size.
Differences Peculiar to Female Children.
The colored girl, before the age of puberty, and sometimes even
beyond this period, is a great deal more the shape of a boy than is
the case with the white girl. Among white children, girls can be
seen to show decided feminine characters ; that is feminine shoulders
and thorax, waist distinctly narrowed, large hips and fat thighs as
early as 8 years of life. Among negro female children I have not
seen these characters become manifest until after 12 years of age or
even much later. When seen in profile the greater inclination of the
pelvis in the female colored child becomes very apparent.
Hrdlicka.
63
PART IV.
Differences in the Children According to Their
Nationalities.
The differences in the children of different nationalities must be
sought for principally in the measurements. All the differences
must necessarily be considered separately at every age, and through
this we are obliged to make so many separations of the children
that several of the resulting groups of the boys and almost all the
groups of the girls become insufficient for comparisons.
The positive results of the comparison of the measurements of
the white children of the different nationalities will not be many, and
none of those which we obtain can be looked on as definite, but are
subject to further verification.
Had we sufficient numbers of children and no physically excep-
tional individuals among them, this part of the study would be
anthropologically the most interesting one. As the matter stands,
however, there are many defects to it.
The differences in the measurements of the children can be shown
in the plainest way by a table in which the figures under the different
headings represent the positions which the children of the different
groups occupy in that particular respect in the total number of the
age series. The figures will do more justice to children of most
nationalities than they will do to Americans, a large proportion of
whom come from families which are in various ways defective.
Average Positions Which the Children of Different Nationalities Occupy
in the Total Number of the Age Series.
en
O
0
U
be
-a
he
,0
»
s
m
0 .
|
-3
-a
w
£
5
£
td
1
*
1
2
3
2
1
2
5
3
4
3
1
5
4
6
2
4
3
e
5
1
3
4
5
G
6
4
2
1
5
3
4
5
6
1
64 Anthropological Investigations.
I will not make many remarks about the above figures. The
American children, notwithstanding the many physically inferior
individuals among them, occupy the highest average position. Only
next to them are the Irish, and the Germans follow very closely.
The Russian Jews and the Syrians are physically the most inferior
of the children.
Among the few single remarkable facts are (a) the unevenness of
the relations of the weight and force of the children of the different
nationalities; (b) the disproportion between the circumference of
the head and the width of the forehead in Irish children; (c) a dis-
proportion in the same figures, but of opposite nature with the
Russian Jews ; (d) the highest weight with a second-class height and
fourth-class force in the Germans ; (e) the height of the head in the
Syrians.
According to the preceding figures the American and the Irish
children are the tallest; the Germans are the heaviest; the Americans
are the most powerful ; the Irish children have the largest circumfer-
ence of the head, but at the same time the smallest width of the
forehead, while the forehead is widest in the Russian Jews and the
Italians; in the height of the head the first place belongs to the
Syrians.
Hrdlicka. 65
PART V.
Separate Report on the Entirely Normal Children.
There were found, as stated already before, among- the 1,000
children examined in the asylum, 58 white boys, 35 white girls, 5
colored boys and 7 colored girls, on whose bodies there was not
found even a single pronounced abnormality.
Of the white children, 8 boys and 1 girl were born of American
parents, 20 boys and 24 girls born of Italian parents, 10 boys and
2 girls were of German, and 8 boys and 1 girl of Russian origin.
The remaining children out of the 58 boys and 35 girls were divided
in small numbers among various nationalities.
If we reduce the above numbers to percentages, we obtain for
the American boys 13.8 per cent.; for the girls 2.85 per cent. of phys-
ically normal children from the whole number of children of this
nationality examined. For the Italian boys, similar proportions are
34.5 per cent.; for the Italian girls 68.6 per cent.; for the German
boys 17.2 per cent.; for the girls 5.7 per cent.; and for the Russian
boys 13.8 per cent.; for the girls 2.85 per cent, of the total. Now,
among the total of white children, these four nationalties were
represented as follows:
American
Italian . .
German .
Russian . ,
If we compare the two classes of percentages we see that the
entirely normal American children are proportionately much less
frequent to the whole percentage in the institution than are any of
the other three groups of children. The reason for this, in my
opinion, lies in the fact that many of the children of foreigners are
sent to the institution for poverty simply and may proceed from
parents who are physically and otherwise entirely normal. Children
5
Boys.
%
Girls.
%
21 .1
9-8
33-2
6l.2
14.6
9.1
8.8
2.1
66
Anthropological Investigations.
of American parents, on the other hand, are more frequently sent
here for real destitution, or as a result of various transgressions and
such children are more liable to proceed from parents who are
themselves not physically normal and who left to their children as an
inheritance various physical irregularities and predispositions.
The family history of the children who are without any physical
abnormalities is very clear. Among the parents of all these 105
children only 2 persons were intemperate, 2 persons insane, and
2 persons who deserted the family. In 60 instances among the
white children, and in 2 instances among the colored, both of the
parents of the child were still living, and in only 4 cases of the
white and 3 cases of the colored children were both parents dead.
Among the causes of death of the deceased parents, so far as we
could ascertain, 9 persons died of consumption, 2 of meningitis, and
all the remaining of acute diseases or of accidents.
The measurements of the children without any physical abnor-
malities, when compared with the average measurements of all the
children who are in the institution, are almost generally, at least so
with the boys, superior. This point will be best appreciated by the
perusal of the following table:
Boys — White.
(1)
All.
(2) Physically entirely normal.
Height.
Weight.
Pressure
Force,
Pressure
Force,
Circumference
of Head.
Diameter
Frontal
AGE.
Right Hand.
Left Hand.
Minimum.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
mm.
mm.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
cm.
cm.
cm.
m.
5
961
971
33
32.0
10
12
10
10
50.20
49.6
9.10
8.90
8 ....
1152
1052
47
39.7
20
16
18
16
51.60
51.0
9.84
9.30
9 ....
1212
1232
53
56.0
24
28
24
28
51.97
52.55
10.07
10.20
10 ....
1248
1258
57
58.4
28
28.5
26
27
52.00
52.6
9.97
10.12
11 ....
1315
1360
64
73.0
32
38
30
36
52.50
53.2
10.14
10.40
12 ....
1362
1343
70
65.2
36
34.5
34
33
52.58
52.0
10.05
9.93
13 ....
1420
1482
81
89.8
40
47.5
38
44
53.00
53 . 55
10 20
10.50
14 ....
1449
1464
84
91.5
44
49
40
46
53.37
54 4
10.29
10.50
15 ....
1462
1497
85
97.0
48
56
46
50
53.30
54.1
10.24
10.20
Hrdlicka.
67
Girls — While.
(1) All. (2) The physically entirely normal.
Height.
"Weight.
Pressure
Force,
Pressure
Force,
Circumference
of Head.
Diameter
Frontal
AGE.
Right Hand.
Left Hand.
Minimum.
1
2
mm.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
mm.
lbs.
lb 8.
lbs,
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
cm.
cm.
cm.
cm.
7
1088
1134
42
43
12
12
12
11.5
50.2
50.7
9.53
9.8
8 ....
1130
1057
45
36 6
16
13
16
10.5
49.8
48.9
9.59
9.5
9 ....
1187
1170
52
50.5
18
18
16
16
50.78
50.7
9.7
9.8
10
1267
1264
60
58
24
22.5
22
21
51.3
51.3
9.86
9.9
11 ....
1304
1312
65
66
26
28.5
24
25.5
51.1
51.6
9.83
9.8
13 ....
1431
1417
84
81.5
36
32
32
31
51.9 51.7
10.1 10.1
Teeth.
In addition to the examination of the body, limbs and other pre-
viously mentioned parts, attention was given also to the condition
of the teeth of the children. Among this class of individuals the
condition of the teeth was found to be fine* that is there were no
more decayed and absent teeth in the mouth than up to two, in 54,
or 53 per cent, of the cases. The teeth were good, that is, there were
between two and six lost and decayed, in 36 per cent, of the cases.
The teeth were mediocre, that is, there were lost and decayed more
than six but less than a half of the total number, in a little over
9 per cent, of the cases; and of bad teeth, or those where a half or
more of the total number were lost and decayed, there were three
cases, or about 3 per cent, of the total.
Careful inquiries were made with the teachers and attendants of
the children as to their abilities in learning and as to their char-
acters since they have been under observation. From the data thus
collected it appears that there were among these children 87, or 83
per cent., with abilities that could be said to be about the average
for children of the same ages outside the institution. In 3 per cent,
of the cases the abilities of the children were decidedly superior; and
in 14 per cent, the abilities were in some way inferior to the general
average. Almost half of the children with inferior abilities in learn-
ing had some known bad heredity.
* The denominations used here are entirely arbitrary, but I have used them extensively in
examining different classes of people and find them very satisfactory.
68 Anthropological Investigations.
As to the character of this class of children, this can be judged of
in two ways; first, by the cause of commitment to the institution,
and, second, by the conduct of the child since confinement. This
second criterion is undoubtedly the safer.
As to the cause of coming here, as stated on admission of the
children, we find that 13 individuals of the whole number of 105 were
sent here for truancy, 9 for disobedience, 2 for running away, 1 ror
staying out late, 1 for begging, 1 for petty larceny, 1 for pilfer-
ing, and 3 for being ungovernable. All these together amount
to 30 per cent, of the 105 children, the remaining 70 per cent, came
here either for a home or on account of poverty of their parents or
guardians.
Observation of the children since they have been in the insti-
tution shows that 3, only, out of the 105, behaved persistently badly.
Two of these individuals had at the same time inferior learning
abilities and bad heredity. '
The conclusion which can be made from the above data is, that
the physically entirely normal children are liable both to be children
with little heredity predisposition, and with fairly normal abilities
and character. These facts will be much better appreciated after
several of the following sections of this study have been perused dv
the reader. That there should be found among the children who
have no physical abnormalities a certain percentage with inferior
abilities and with a persistent bad behavior, shows that the mental
system can not be looked at as a mere reflection of the state
of the body, or the reverse; the brain can apparently have properties
which are not perceptible in the external parts of the individual.
Hrdlicka.
69
PART VI.
Children With Five or More Abnormalities.
There were found of such children 62 white males, 16 white
females, 8 colored males and 1 colored female, in all 87.
The measures of these children show that almost 50 per cent, of
the individuals of this class (48.3 per cent.) are in their principal
measurements below the general average obtained on all the chil-
dren of similar ages in the institution. The following table shows a
comparison of the principal average measurements of the abnormal
white boys with those obtained on all the white boys in the institu-
tion.
Boys— White.
(1) All. (2) Boys with 5 or more abnormalities.
Height.
Weight.
Pressure
Force.
Pressure
Force.
ClRCUMFEHENCE
of Head.
Diameter
Front
AGE.
Right Hand.
Left Hand.
Minimum.
1
mm
2
1
2
1
2
1
0
1
2
1
2
mm.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs
lbs.
lbs.
cm.
cm.
cm.
cm.
6 ....
10M
1120
40
45
14
16
12
14
51.67
52.0
9.73
9.9
7 ....
1120
1113
45
45
18*
20
16
18
51.38
51.4
9.78
9.7
8 ....
1152
1181
47
48
20
20
18
IX
51.61
51.4
9.84
9.9
9 ....
1212
1205
53
52
24
26
24
24
51.97
50.9
10.07
9 8
10 ....
1248
12*7
57
51
28
22
26
22
52.03
51.5
9.97
9.7
11 ....
1315
1306
64
62
32
32
30
30
52.50
53.2
10.14
9.9
12 ....
1362
1369
70
70
36
34
34
32
52.58
53.2
10.05
10.1
13 ....
1420
1420
81
76
40
42
38
38
53.00
52.5
10.20
9.8
14 ....
1449
1478
84
84
44
44
40
42
53.37
53.2
10.29
10.2
15 ....
1462
1422
85
74
48
42
46
38
53.30
53.6
10.24
10.1
16 ....
1615
1606
115
107
68
66
53
64
54.82
54.5
10.62
10.5
Inquiries as to the nationalities of these children show that 21
or about 27 per cent, of the white boys were of American parentage,
24 or about 31 per cent, were Italians, and 11 or about 14 per cent,
were Germans. The proportion of abnormal children is much smal-
ler among the Italians than is the proportion of the children of this
nationality to the total of white children in the institution. Of the
Germans it is about the same, but of the Americans it is considerably
greater. These facts are to be explained on the same basis as I men-
jo Anthropological Investigations.
tioned in connection with the children who were entirely free from
physical abnormalities.
There were made similar inquiries as to the ability at learning and
character of the children who show many abnormalities, as were
made with the other groups of children. Pains were taken to se-
cure these data as reliable as possible.
These inquiries reveal that, as to ability at learning, there are
only 55 or about 63 per cent, of the children of this class who are in
this respect up to the average of public school children, 28 indi-
viduals, or a little over 32 per cent., are of inferior abilities, while four
children are exceptionablly bright. It would seem from these
figures that numerous abnormalities of the body stand frequently
in connection with inferior abilities of the mind. However, such a
combination is far from general, and occasionally a body offering
many abnormalities is associated with very good mental powers.
As to the character of the children of this class, so far as we can
judge from the causes which brought the child here, it is inferior to
the children who are physically free of abnormalities. The per-
centage of children with five or more abnormalities who were sent to
the asylum for some bad conduct was 30 per cent, of the total, which
is an equal proportion to that which we have seen with the physi-
cally normal children. But there are two points of difference be-
tween the two classes of individuals. In the first place, almost all
the younger children with many abnormalities, that is children be-
low 10 years of age, were sent here for destitution. Out of the re-
maining children of this class, that is, those after 10 years of age,
a very great proportion were misbehaved individuals. This fact
was noticed to a much smaller extent among children free from phy-
sical defects. The second point of difference consists in the char-
acter of the offences. I gave in Part V the offences of the physi-
cally normal individuals. They were: in 12.4 per cent, of the 105
normal children truancy; in 8.6 per cent, disobedience; in 3 per cent,
ungovernable ; in 2 per cent, running away ; in 1 per cent, each stay-
ing out, begging, petit larceny and pilfering. Of the 87 children
with five or more abnormalities: in 11.5 per cent, of the cases the
children were brought here for disobedience; in 10.3 per cent, for
truancy; in 5.7 per cent. for petit larceny; in 1.15 per cent, for pilfer-
Hrdlicka. 71
ing and in 1.15 per cent, burglary. The character of the offences on
the whole was more grave with the physically defective children.
As to the behavior of the children of this class since under obser-
vation in the asylum, their conduct was stated to be persistently bad
in some way in 15 cases, or 17 per cent, of the total.
It seems, whatever causes there may be for the fact, that the
children with numerous physical abnormalities are also more liable
to abnormalities of character than are the children who are physi-
cally entirely normal. The phenomenon may perhaps be explained
from two main standpoints. On the one hand, the child with
numerous abnormalities carries in the majority ot the cases more
serious predisposition inherited from its parents, and this predis-
position affects not only its body but also diminishes its energy and
self control. Besides this, children whose parents were physically
inferior have undoubtedly suffered more from neglect and from in-
sufficient training, as a class, than children whose parents we have
reason to believe were physically normal, and these conditions have
left a mark on their character.
In illustration of this last point we find that among the 87 children,
in seven cases both of the parents were dead, in 22 cases the father
alone and in 13 cases the mother alone were dead.
The kind of heredity these children have received is shown well
enough by the number of their dead parents, but it illustrated in
addition, even from the scarce information we have in this respect,
by the fact that 12 of the parents of the children were intemperate, 3
deserted their family, and 1 was a forger.
The children who show many physical abnormalities should not
be condemned and looked upon as any inferior beings, simply be-
cause of their physical abnormalities. But it should be borne in
mind that many of these children may require an additional and pro-
longed care. With such care the majority of them will develop
into good members of the community.
72
Anthropological Investigations.
PART VII.
Children who were Criminal or Vicious.
In this class we find 72 males and only 5 females. The prepon-
derance of the males over the females among the children with
decidedly bad characters is remarkable.
The measure table of the criminal or vicious children given below
will show that there is no general physical inferiority to be observed
in these children as a class. To this there are, however, individual
exceptions.
White— Males.
(1) All. (2) Children who are criminal or vicious.
Height.
Weight.
Pressure
Force,
Pressure
Force,
Circumference
of Head.
Diameter,
Frontal
AGE.
Right Hand.
Left Hand.
Minimum.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
mm.
mm.
lhs.
lhs
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
cm.
cm.
cm.
cm.
10....
1248
1234
57
56
28
28
26
27.2
52-03
51.5
9 97
9.9
11....
1315
1339
64
67.9
32
34.2
30
32.2
52.50
53.0
10.14
10.1
12 ...
1362
1375
70
72
36
40
34
36
52.58
53.1
10.05
10.1
13....
1420
1417
81
77
40
42
38
38
53.00
52.8
10.20
10.0
14...
1449
1467
84
85
44
44
40
40.4
53 37
53.2
10.29
10.1
15....
1462
1482
85
91
48
50.6
46
48
53.30
53.8
10.24
10.4
16....
1615
161U
115
114
68
66
53
62
54.82
54.9
10.62
10.4
17....
1654
1729
122
133
74
89
72
84
53.93
54.6
10.23
10.6
As to the parentage of this class of children in 19 cases, or 27.5
per cent., the white individuals were of American parentage. (This
fact accounts to a certain extent for the value of some of the average
physical measurements.) In 18 instances, or 26 per cent., the chil-
dren were of German parentage, and in 14 instances, or 20 per
cent., these children were Russian Jews. There was no Syrian among
these individuals and, what is very remarkable, considering the
number of children of this nationality in the institution, there was
only one Italian. The preponderance of American children among
the criminal and vicious children must be referred to the same
causes which I mentioned in connection with the entirely normal
children.
Hrdlicka. 73
There was found a lesser proportion of abnormalities to each of
the children of this class than we will find to be the case with children
of some of the following groups. Nevertheless, the proportion is
slightly above the general averages in the institution. There were
to each white boy 3.1 of abnormalities; to each white girl 2.5; to each
colored male 2.6, while the 1 colored female was entirely normal.
Among the total of 231 abnormalities of all classes there were 41, or
about 17 per cent, of serious nature, and 70, or a little over 30 per
cent., of indifferent nature, while the remaining 120 were of medium
significance. Additionally, in three cases there was observed a
serious condition of the heart.
If we consider the above data on the criminal and vicious children
in the institution, and then compare them with similar data ob-
tained from other groups of children here reported, we must come
to the conclusion that the misbehaved children are not characterized
as a class by any considerable physical inferiority, or by any great
proportion of physical abnormalities; nor have I found that any
particular atypical character could be said to be characteristic of
this class of individuals. In consequence it seems to me the causes
for the bad conduct and character of many of the children of this
class must be attributed, so far as we can see, not so much to their
constitution as to the social circumstances and environment to which
they were subjected.
As to the teeth, they were found in 31 per cent, of the criminal
or vicious children to be in fine condition; in 51 per cent, of the
cases they were good; in 14.3 per cent, of the cases they were
mediocre, and in 2.6 per cent, they were bad. The condition of the
teeth is inferior in these subjects to the conditions found in the
physically entirely normal children.
The itemized causes of the commitment of the individuals of this
class are as follows: Admitted as ungovernable, 25; for petit lar-
ceny, 24; for pilfering, 12; for burglary, 6; for stealing, 3; for
assault, 2; for attempted theft, 2; for grand larceny, 1; for pocket
picking, 1 ; and for an attempt at burglary, 1.
Since these children have been in the asylum, 75, out of a total
of yy, were found to be entirely tractable and have behaved in a
satisfactory way. The remaining 2 show, both, sneaking disposi-
tion, cowardice and a tendency to lying.
74 Anthropological Investigations.
As to the abilities at learning of the criminal or vicious children^
10 out of 77, or 13 per cent., were found with inferior abilities; in
2 cases the children were extraordinarily bright; and in 65 cases,
or 85 per cent, of the total, the abilities were equal to the average
ability of children outside the institution.
I may mention in this connection that I have considerable con-
fidence in the data as to the ability of the children, for many of the
teachers in the institution have had a long experience in teaching in
the public schools.
It may be interesting to remark that out of the 10 children with
inferior abilities of learning, 6 were committed for larger trans-
gressions (3 pilfering, 1 assault, 1 petit larceny, 1 burglary); the
remaining 4 were ungovernable.
Taking all the above data on this class of children into considera-
tion, I think that the criminal and vicious subjects show very favor-
ably, and with the proper treatment give great hopes as to their
future. What seems to me of the greatest importance in connection
with these children is that their sojourn in the asylum should be
sufficiently prolonged so that the good new habits may become a
part of the nature of these children. With such treatment I think
this class would turn out exceedingly few inveterate criminals.
Hrdlicka.
75
PART VIII.
Children Whose Parents were Intemperate, Criminal, In-
sane or Dissolute.
This class of children carries undoubtedly not only many defects,
the result of bad inheritance, but also the consequences of bad en-
vironment. We find altogether 61 of such children in the institution;
24 of these are native born, 9 are colored children born in this
country, and 28 are partly or wholly foreign.
Members of this class of children come into the Asylum, almost as
a rule, very young and generally for destitution, being early aban-
doned, or left orphans by their parents.
In measurements children of this class are generally inferior to
children with normal inheritance. Almost 60 per cent, of the indi-
viduals of this class were found to be inferior in their principal meas-
urements to the general averages of the corresponding classes of the
asylum children. The following comparative table shows these dif-
ferences better than words could.
Boys — White.
(1) All. (2) Those whose pareDts were insane, intemperate, dissolute or criminal.
Pressure
Pressure
Circumfer-
Diameter
Height.
Weight.
Ff
RCE,
Force.
ence of
Front
Right Hand.
Left Hand.
Head.
Minimum.
AGE.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
mm.
mm.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
cm.
cm.
cm.
cm.
5
961
951
33
34
10
10
10
8
50.2
50.8
9.10
9.3
6 ....
1051
1023
40
36
14
11.5
12
10.5
51.67
51.2
9.73
9.9
7 ....
1120
1071
45
39
18
12.5
16
10
51.38
50.6
9.78
9.8
8 ....
1152
1187
47
47
20
20
18
18
51.61
50.9
9.84
9.6
9 ...
1212
1217
53
50
24
24
24
22
51.97
51.8
10.07
9.9
10 ....
1248
1233
57
51.6
28
27
26
25
52.03
51.8
9.97
9.9
11 ....
1315
1244
64
58.0
32
29
30
27.6
52.50
51.4
10.14
9.6
12 ....
1362
1348
70
64.7
36
34
34
31
52.58
51.6
10 05
9.65
13 ....
1420
a 1388
b 1642
81
a 75
b 124
40
a 40
b50
38
a 36
b 50
53.00
a 52.0
b 55.4
10.20
a 10.0
b 10.9
14 ....
1419
1401
84
71
44
36
40 32
53.37
52.1
10.29
10.6
15 ... .
1462
1444
85
81
48
47.5
40 ' 43.5
53.30
53.7
10.24
10.3
17 ....
1654
1506
122
100
74
46
72 46
53.93
53.7
10.23
9.5
a and b represent two individuals.
y6 Anthropological Investigations.
The children whose parents were intemperate, insane, etc., are
burdened with numerous physical abnormalities. The proportions
of abnormalities to each child of this class were as follows : In white
boys, 3.33; in white girls, 2.44; in colored boys, 3.75 and in colored
girls, 2.20 to each individual. These proportions are above those
which were obtained on all the children of the same sexes and color
in the asylum together. Out of a total of 185 abnormalities 45 or
about 24 per cent, were of a serious character, while 31 per cent,
were of more or less indifferent nature. There were among these 61
children observed in addition, 5 cases of disturbances of the heart,
of which at least one was serious.
The teeth in this class of subjects are in a condition much inferior
to that found in the physically normal children. Fine teeth were
found in only 2^ per cent, of the cases, good teeth in 54 per cent,
mediocre teeth in 20 per cent, and bad teeth in 3.2 per cent, of the 61
cases.
Among the causes of admission of this class of children, we find
that 56 out of the 61 individuals were brought here for destitution.
Of the others, 3 were sent here for disobedience, 1 for pilfer-
ing and 1 for truancy. As most of the individuals of this class
have to be sent here very early for destitution, there has been but
very little time for them to develop or show fully an abnormal char-
acter.
While inside of the institution 52 of the children behaved well,
9 or about 15 per cent, of the class showed a persistent bad
character. This proportion of persistently badly behaved indi-
viduals under confinement is not equalled in any other class of chil-
dren in the asylum.
As to the abilities at learning of this class of subjects, this shows
also worse than in any other class of children in the institu-
tion. In almost 28 per cent, of the cases the ability of these children
is distinctly inferior. In 3 individuals there were observed special
brightness or ability in some directions, while abilities approaching
the average of outside children exists only in 41 or in about 67 per
cent, of the total.
Thus the children who carry a serious burden of heredity are
found as a class and with very few exceptions as individuals to be in
Hrdlicka. 7J
many particulars inferior, not only to entirely normal children but
even to the average child of the institution and even to the simple
orphans. Of all the classes of children the treatment of this one
appears to me to be the least hopeful. No individuals of this sort
should be discharged from the asylum except after a prolonged stay
and only when they can be placed in much superior conditions than
were those from which they came.
78
Anthropological Investigations.
PART IX.
Orphans or Children whose Both Parents are Dead.
Of this class of individuals there were found 38 in all in the asylum.
In all probability many of these individuals carry some serious hered-
itary predisposition. About 40 per cent, of these children were
found to be subaverage in their principal physical measurements. I
will give here a few rows of figures which will show the differences
in the measurements of this class of children from the general aver-
ages obtained on all the white children of the same sex in the asy-
lum. Only the boys are in a sufficient number to be compared.
Boys — White.
(1) Al
a
) Children whose both parents are dead.
Height.
Weight.
Pressure
Force,
Pressure
Porce,
Circumference
of Head,
Diameter
Frontal
AGE.
Right Hand.
Left Hand.
Minimum.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
mm.
mm.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
cm.
cm.
cm.
cm.
8....
1152
1136
47
43.5
20
18
18
15
51.6
52.6
9.84
10.2
10....
1248
1232
57
53.5
28 1 26
26
24
52.0
53.0
9.97
10.4
11....
1315
1320
64
66
32
32.5
30
31.5
52.5
53.5
10.14
10.1
12.-..
1362
1324
70
64.6
36
32
34
31
52.58
52.2
10.05
10.1
13....
1420
1413
81
77
40
38
38
36
53.0
52.8
10.20
10.2
14....
1449
1481
84
87
44 50
40 38
53.37
53.9
10.29
10.2
In the number of their abnormalities the orphan children exceed
the general averages found in the asylum. Thus among the boys
of this class the proportion of abnormalities to each child was 3.2; in
the white female, 2.2; in the colored male, 4.25; in the colored
female, 2.5. Most of these proportions are somewhat above those
which we have seen in Part I, and which were obtained on the
total numbers of the children of same sexes and color, Out of the
total of 121 abnormalities of all kinds found on the 38 orphan chil-
dren, 28 or about 23 per cent, were of serious character, while 30 or
about 25 per cent, were indifferent abnormalities.
The teeth in the orphan children were found in 40 per cent, of the
cases to be fine, in 45 per cent, to be good and in 16 per cent, of cases
Hrdlicka. 79
to be mediocre. If we compare these figures with similar figures ob-
tained on the physically entirely normal children, we will find that
the teeth of the orphans in the institution are not up to the standard
of these latter.
Character of the Children. — Almost all the younger children of this
class are sent here on account of poverty. Among the older indi-
viduals the lack of parental care, and probably also some of the
hereditary predisposition the children carry, shows itself in a large
percentage of misconduct. Out of a total of 38 children, 14, or about
2)7 per cent., were committed here for either disobedience, (9);
running away, (2); petit larceny, (2), or stealing, (1). As all these
misbehaved children were males, the real proportion rises to 45 per
cent. If we should only consider individuals above 10 years of age,
the proportion of misbehaved would be very great.
As to their abilities at learning, the orphan children do not show
anything extraordinary. Three or about 8 per cent, of them were of
inferior abilities in learning, 1 was of a superior ability and 34 were
about the average of outside children.
Three only of the children of this class were persistently either
destructive, dishonest, or vicious, since they have been confined in
the institution. The character of the others shows nothing perverse,
which is a sign that the badness of the children of this class before
they came into the asylum was more due to acquisition by habits
than to any inherent moral defects. Apparently the sooner the chil-
dren of this class are sent to the institution, the better.
8o
Anthropological Investigations.
PART X.
Children whose One or Both Parents Died of Consumption.
There were found 51 of these children in the institution. Forty
per cent, of these were inferior in their physical measures. The ac-
companying table shows the principal measures of the boys of con-
sumptive parents compared with the general averages obtained on
all the white boys in the institution.
Boys — White.
(I) All. (2) Children both of whose parents died of consumption.
Height.
Weight.
Pressure
Force, Right
Pressure
Force, Left
Circumference
of Head.
Diameter
Front
AGE.
Hand.
Hand.
Minimum.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
mm.
mm.
lbs
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
cm.
cm.
cm.
cm.
8 ....
1152
1116
47
42.5
20
16
18
13
51.61
51.1
9.84
9.8
9 ....
1212
12!8
53
55
24
26
24
24.4
51.97
51.9
10.07
9.9
10 ... .
1248
1244
57
53
28
23.5
26
21
52.03
51.1
9.97
9.9
11 ....
1315
1275
64
61.6
32
34
30
32
52.50
53.5
10.14
10.2
12 ....
1362
1324
70
63.4
36
31.2
34
30
52.58
51.3
10.05 | 9.8
13 ....
1420
1397
81
77
40
39.6
38
38
53.00
53.3
10.20 1 10 4
14 ....
1449
1439
84
80
44
41.2
40
36.4
53.37
52.7
10.29 | 9.9
The proportion of abnormalities to each child in this class is
greater than the proportion found on all the children together.
Thus there were to each white boy of this class 2.83 of abnormalities ;
to each white girl 3.3; to each colored boy 5.3; to each colored
girl 2. (Compare with similar figures on all the children in Part I.)
Of the total of 155 abnormalities of all kinds found in the children
of consumptive parents, 39, or 25 per cent., were of a serious char-
acter, and but 41, or 26 per cent., were of indifferent nature. Be-
sides this, in 5 cases, there were found defects of the heart.
The condition of the teeth in all this class of children was found
to be as follows: In 23 per cent, of the cases the teeth were fine; in
61 per cent, they were good; in 16 per cent, of the instances the
teeth were mediocre. The condition of the teeth in the children of
consumptive parents is considerably inferior to the condition of the
teeth in the children who are physically entirely normal.
The character of the children of consumptive parents is not very
Hrdlicka. 8i
encouraging-. Twenty-three, or 45 per cent., of these children were
brought to the institution for some sort of misconduct. In 14 in-
stances the misconduct was disobedience, in 7 cases truancy, in i
staying out, and in 1 petit larceny. In 2 of the children the behavior
since they have been in the asylum is bad. In 1 boy the speech is
very defective.
Thirteen and seven-tenths per cent, of the children whose one or
both parents died of consumption were of inferior abilities in learn-
ing, and no one of the 51 children showed in any way an exceptional
brightness.
Both the ordinary orphans and the orphans whose parents we
know succumbed to consumption are shown in these last two divi-
sions to be physically inferior, not only to entirely normal children,
but also to the average of all the asylum children taken together.
In both classes, besides, there is apparent a considerable tendency
for misconduct. The physical inferiority of these individuals is un-
doubtedly due to a very large extent to the inherited deficiencies in
their constitution. The tendency to misbehavior may be partly due
to some deficiencies, but is in all probability much more due to
improper training and other causes of social character, which were
the results of the decease of the parents of the children. The simi-
larity in the data concerning both of these classes of orphans is
undoubtedly due to the fact that in each of the classes there are
many individuals who at the same time belong also to the other
division.
CONCLUSION.
It seems to me that the most proper way to conclude this study
will be not by any generalizations, but with a wish for the extension
of similar investigations. There is a broad and promising field for
studies of this nature in Juvenile Asylums, as well as in other institu-
tions in this country, and particularly in the Slate of New York. If I
were allowed a suggestion. 1 would recommend that the State Boards
of Charities, particularly that of this State, give their official sanc-
tion and support to such studies, and extend them gradually to cor-
rectional and other institutions which fall under their control; pro-
vided, of course, that they can secure the services of the proper, able and
unprejudiced, investigators.
6
IN DEX.
PAGE.
Abnormalities, detailed report on same 33
according to their origin 25, 36
children without any 14, 65
differences and proportions of. H-1?, 19-26, 33-36
definitions of. II, 12
division of, according to the parts of the body iS
graphic representation of Figs. I and 2, bet. pp. 17 and 18
significance and gravity of 12-14, 27
object of their study 14
detail enumeration of I9-24
variations in, with age 33, 34, 35, 36
children with five or more 69
of the body ' 23
of the ears 21
of the face 20
of the forehead 20
due to habit 12
of the genitals 24, 35
of the gums 21
of the hair 20
of the head 19
of the limbs 22
of the palate 22
of the scalp 19
oftheteeth 21, 67
of the uvula 22
of the lungs and heart 30
Ability in learning, in children without any physical abnormalities 67
in children with five or more abnormalities 70
in children who were criminal or vicious 74
in children whose parents were intemperate, etc 76
in children who are orphans 79
in children whose one or both parents died of consumption 81
Ages of the children examined u
Arm expanse 47- 4&
Body, abnormalities of 23
Cause of admission, children without any physical abnormalities 68
children whose parents were intemperate, etc 76
83
84 . Index.
PAGE.
Character of children on admission 9
improvement in, after admission 10
of children without any physical abnormalities 68
of children with five or more abnormalities 70
of children who were criminal or vicious 73
of children whose parents were intemperate, etc 76
of children who are orphans 79
of children whose one or both parents died of consumption 80
Cephalic Index 3 ' > 54
Chest, measures of 4^-5 J
growth of — 5°
index of, at different ages 5°> 5 '
Children, with only one abnormality 15
with many abnormalities 16
without any physical abnormalities 14, 65
with five or more abnormalities 69
who were criminal or vicious 72
whose parents were intemperate, etc 75
who are orphans 7"
whose one or both parents died of consumption 80
Congenital abnormalities, significance of 13, 27
Differences between white and colored children, resumed 59, 62
Diameters of the head, principal value of S1
Differences in the children, according to their nationalities , 63
Discharge, state of children at the time of 10
premature l °> I1
Divisions of the study °
Education, state of, in children on admission 9
progress in, after admission of the children 10
Examinations, details of n et secl-
method of 6, 7
Face, abnormalities of 2°
Family history, in children without any physical abnormalities 65, 66
in children with five or more abnormalities 7l
Genital organs, abnormalities of 24> 35
Gums, abnormalities of 2I
Habits of children, persistence of i°> lI
Hair, abnormalities of 2°
Heart and lungs 3°
Head, abnormalities of !9
circumference ot 55
cephalic index 54
diameter, antero-posterior max. of. 52
diameter, lateral maximum of 53
diameter, binauricular of 5°
diameter, frontal minimum of. 57
difference in shape of, in males and females 52
Index. 85
PAGE.
Head, difference in shape of, according to age, etc 54, 55
difference of, between white and negro children 52, 53, 60
height of 53
measures of 51 et seq.
module of 55
Height, average, all nationalities 37
of American born asylum children compared with height of American chil-
dren from the public schools, Boston 38
of Italian children 39
Investigations, nature and object of, general remarks 3, 4
advantages of, to the children, scientific 5, 6
Improvement in children after admission 9
Left handed individuals, proportion of 31
Limbs, abnormalities of. 22
Measurements selected 3
a brief resume of the results of 57, 58
of the children without any physical abnormalities 66
of the children whose parents are intemperate, etc 75
of the children with five or more abnormalities 69
of children whose both parents are dead 78
of children whose one or both parents died of consumption 80
of children, criminal or vicious 72
Measuring, methods of 7
Measures, detail report 36, 58
Methods of examination 7
Module of Smith 55
Nature of investigations, general remarks about 3
of children admitted to the institution 4
Nationalities of children 32, 63, 65, 69, 72, 75
Normal and abnormal characters, definitions of 13
children, physically, proportions of same 14, 65
Numbers and classes of children examined 3, 11
Objects of investigations 4
Observations, general, on the children 9
on the children, since they have been in the institution, children
without any physical abnormalities 67, 68
on the children since they have been in the institution, children
with five or more abnormalities 7°
on the children since they have been in the institution, whose parents
are intemperate, etc 76
on the children since they have been in the institution, criminal or
vicious 73
Objections to examinations 8
Palate, abnormalities of. 22
Pressure force 44 et seq.
Pressure and traction force, methods of testing 44
differences of 44
86 Index.
PAGE.
Pressure and traction force, annual increase of 45? 46
in negro children 45, 61
in relation to the weight of the children 46
Problems concerning the future of the asylum children 4-6
Restoration of the children, time necessary to effect same 10, 11
Sitting height 39
proportions to total height 41
Scalp, abnormalities of. 19
Tabulation of records 7
Traction force 46, 47
Teeth, abnormalities of 21, 67
in children without any physical abnormalities 67
in children whose parents are intemperate, etc 76
in children whose both parents are dead 78
in children whose one or both parents died of consumption 80
of children criminal or vicious 73
Type, abnormal, of children not present in the institution 24
Uvula, abnormalities of 22
Weight 42-44
as affected by clothing 43
of asylum children compared with that of Boston school children 43
of negro children 44
Weighing, methods of : 42
46
6i
46
4-6
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