Athletic Sports (extract)

Physical Characteristics of the Athlete and knees. The upper arm, elbow, and forearm, also, are nearly symmetrical, al­ though a trifle large for the lower extremi­ ties. The depthof chest and abdomen is a little low, and the lung-capacity is de­ ficient; but nearly all the strength-tests are in the region of the maximum. Fig. 16, a , b , c, is pleasing; and the har­ monic poise and beautiful outlines it illus­ trates serve to show, also, that a man may depart from the normal standard in several parts and yet retain all the appearance of grace and symmetry. In girth of neck this man approaches within two and one- half per cent of the maximum, whilein length of upper arm he falls to within two and a half per cent of the minimum. The waist andneck are very broad for the hips and shoulders, and the instep is ap­ parently low, as the result, probably, of a high arch andnarrow foot. In this, as in the preceding figure, the depth of chest is somewhat low, and the lung-capacity at the normal. The strength-tests would probably have exceeded the muscle meas­ urements, owing to the shortness of the arms and legs, and have reached the region of the maximum. These twomen are base-ball players of some prominence. As a base-ball pitcher 93