Athletic Sports (extract)

Physical Characteristicsof the Athlete extent ofdivergence on the chart is limited to a very few lines, and the approach to symmetry isapparent. The lengthmeas­ urements of the upper arm and forearm fall exactly on the normal line, and both are perfectly symmetricalas related to each other and to the right and left sides. When compared with other parts of the body, however, it will be seen that the arms are short, illustrating a point in con­ nection with the chart that may be of in­ terest. In the original table, the fifty per cent line represents the valueof the meas­ urements for each part at which the great­ est number of observations occurred. For example, if out of any given number of men, collected fromall parts of the globe, the largest group was 5 feet 5J inches in height, this measurement would naturally fall upon the central line of a chart com­ posed of these records, and so would the measurements of the other parts common to the greatest number. If any one man could be found, all of whose measurements corresponded to those on the central line in the table, he would be termed a mean or typical man;i.e., he would represent the type most common to the human race.* * " The conclusions arrivedat up to the present time, by the most eminent investigators in this particular branch of science (anthropometry), may be summarily stated as follows : — 96