Abstract
LONDON. Anthropological Institute, January 13.—Dr. A. C. Haddon, F.R.S, in the chair.—Dr. C S. Myers read a paper on the future of anthropometry. He suggested that the work in which anthropometry had hitherto been concerned, viz. the determination of the average metric differences between the various peoples of the world, must ultimately yield before improved methods and new problems. The frequency-distribution of any one character in a series of individuals must be studied with greater accuracy. The mean of the deviations of individuals from the mean of the whole series and the form of the binomial frequency-curve require to be determined both for relatively pure and mixed peoples. Frequency-curves will almost invariably show more than one point of maximal frequency. But before the usual inference is drawn that these several peaks represent heterogeneous elements in the series, care must be taken that the irregularities of distribution are not the result of examining an insufficient number of individuals. The future will see the precise investigation of the degree of correlation of various characters, the mode of inheritance of characters, the fertility and characters of cross-breds, and the effect of migration and evolution on mankind. Mr. Francis-Galton, Prof. Karl Pearson and others have already made a start. Anthropometry has first to look for aid to the infant science of biometry, which can employ experimental and therefore simpler conditions. The whole study of natural history is passing from the descriptive to the quantitative aspect. In this physical anthropology must join.
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Societies and Academies . Nature 67, 310–312 (1903). https://doi.org/10.1038/067310b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/067310b0