Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-25
THE STATUREOF MEN
AMERICANS AVERAGE TALLER THAN
 ANY OTHER RACE.

Our Indian Comes First, and the White
 Citizen of tho United States Is Next
 Opinions of Men Who Have Studied the
 Subject of Changes Tn Stature.
 Professor Donath, naturalist of Butla pest, makes tho startling announcement to tho scientific world that the standard of mans stature is rapidly deteriorating. After examining the recruiting statistics of those European countries in which en- listment in the army Is compulsory to ev. cry male citizen he has found that during the past decade there has been a surpris- ing increase in the proportion of men un- qualified for active service on account Of shortness of stature. The number of those rejected last year from the Austro- Hun garian army was found to bo 76 DOT cont moro in proportion than thoso refused en. trance ten years ago. Within tho last ten years tho proportion of thoso unqualified in Italy has rison from to 23 per cent. In Germany, during the same space, nl- though tho required standard has lately been lowered tho rejected class has gono up from 2 to 16 per cent, and within 1G years tho proportion of those refused sorv- leo in tho French army on tho samo
 
 cent Statistics from Russia have not as yet been received, but of all tho other countries included in Professor Domains list Switzerland alone was found to be free from this deterioration in tho height of her avcrago man.
 Dr. Theodore Gill, when asked at the Smithsonian whether he was startled by Professor Donath' s examination, expressed his opinion that man is now at tho maxi mum ip tho scalo of health and stature. Various theories he says, have been pro- mulgated by anthropologists trying to prove thnt mans prehistoric ancestors were races of giants, and that the human race has been on the gradual decrease ever sinco but ho has no respect for such doc trines. As proof of this, ho says, most of tho ancient armor worn by tho best physi- cal types of men many centuries ngo is too small and too short for tho average man of today.
 Professor W. J. McGee, the ethnologist, says that Americans noed have no fear that any such condition may result from their mental vigor. When Herbert Spen- oer visited this country, ho prophesied that our nation would soon develop into Q stunted, unhealthy race, because in their struggle for intellectual and commercial superiority our citizens wore burning tho candle at both onds, but since this proph- ecy was made tho census statistics have continued year by year to prove that VIC arc the tallcst and healthiest nation on the globe. A decrease In mans stature, . the professor continued, would Do brought about by improper nutrition or neglect of exercise. As an example of thbe effects of insufficient food, the Indian tribes which have existed for centuries in our arid regions are much thinner and shorter in stature than those whose fathers en- joyed tho abundant gamo of tho prairie
 Dr. Fletcher, the anatomist of tho Unit ed States Army Medical museum, to whom tho writer is also indebted, when asked to give his opinion as to the stature of the American people, referred to the anthro- pometrio statistics of the provost marshal generals office, issued In 1875. These statistics were compiled with Dr. Fletch. CTS aid from the measurements of our sol diers during the lato war. They comprise tho latest census of tho kind which has been taken in the country. In the com parative table of stature, arranged ac- cording to nationnlities the United States Indian was found to stand higher than any of the other races of the world. His ofCIdSo bciSnO was 8lNOH uo otsUo iHOuCS The white citizen of tho United States comes next, with an average stature of 67.07 inches. The United States negro ranks fourteenth in the scale, and of all the countries of tho world considered the Portuguese were found to be tho shortest, averaging only 65. 43 inches. Tho total mean height of man was 87. 8 inches
 In tho tablo giving tho relative heights of United States soldiers thoso from Ken lucky ranked first, with an average height of 6S. 07 inches, kansas came second, and Connecticut was last, with an average of 66. 59 inches As compared with tables completed ten years before tho close of the war these statistics showed an increase of average height in each one of tho states, without exception.
 It has always been proverbial among anatomists that blond nations are greater in stature tban their darker neighbors This Is not dEe to tho difference in tho pigment of the complexion Gr the hair but to the geological position of the blond races. They arc characteristic of tho north, and on account of the lower degree of temperature are induced to take moro OK ercso, which throws thom more in the open air. At tho top of tho list of tho countries, arranged in order of stature, tho first seven, after the United States white men, are Norway, Scotland, British America, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark and Holland, all northern nations.
 The American negro further illustrates that the poorer races are shorter in stature than the richer occupying the same terri tory. Tho impoverished races generally complete their growth moro rapidly than the more luxurious, who continue to in. crease gradually in bono and muscle until n much later period in lifo. Most men are still growing in height until they are over 25 years old, and the thorax, or framework about tho chest, usually continues to ex- pand until tue thirtioth year.
 Tho western man of tho United States Is generally superior to tho eastern man in height. This is attributed to tho for mer's cnioynent of freer air and q greater