DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49271#0143
88
E. A. Hooton
Limb proportions. No measurements of limb proportions are given in the 1803
drawings except the maximum transverse diameters of the thighs and the calves. But
M. Thibault in his side view drawing designates a point on the posterior surface of the
lower limb near the knee joint as 16 pouces (or inches) above the ground. There is no
doubt that he was designating the external point of the articulation of the femur with
the tibia, a point of measurement formerly used by French anthropologists. It is difficult
to find comparable data for this measurement, as most modern anthropometrists measure
the height of the lower leg from the tibiale on the medial side and in most tables of limb
proportions the height of the foot is subtracted. Topinard13 gives the mean height
from the external point of the articular interspace of the knee as 464 mm. in the case of
18 male Arabs and 458 mm. for 10 male negroes. In our subject this measurement is
433 mm. (pouces) or 406 mm. (inches). For the Arabs this measurement is 27.8% of the
mean stature; for the negroes 28.4%; in the case of this South African woman 28.2%.
On the basis of this comparison it seems apparent that the Hottentot woman approximates
the negro type in the relatively great length of the inferior segment of the lower limb,
especially when it is remembered that in females of all races the leg is proportionately
shorter than in males.
In the 1803 drawing no measurements of the upper extremity are given.
In the scale drawing by Thibault no measurements of the arm are indicated, but it
is possible to obtain the approximate length by marking the acromion point on the draw-
ing and measuring to the tip of the index finger, utilizing the scale. Thus the total length
of the arm was found to be about 690 mm. (pouces), 647 mm. (inches), or 45.1% of the
stature. This figure and the index would be slightly increased if it had been possible to
measure to the tip of the middle finger. Martin14 gives 45.5 as the mean relation of arm
length to stature for female Bushmen. Deniker 15 found an average index of five Hot-
tentot women to be 45.9 (44.4M7.7).
Hands and feet. Both Bushmen and Hottentots are generally stated to have very
small hands and feet. In both of our drawings the hands are represented as relatively
small. This is especially notable in the case of Thibault’s 1801 drawing. As the fingers
are not extended in this drawing, measurements cannot well be taken. The woman in
the 1803 drawing has typically Hottentot or Bushman feet,— very small and broad
anteriorly, with the great toe exceeding in length the second toe, and a very short fifth
toe. The 1801 drawing shows similar proportions in the relative lengths of the toes,
but the feet are large and coarse and the right foot measures approximately 234 mm.
13 P. Topinard, Anthropology, (English trans.), London, 1878, p. 333.
14 R. Martin, Lehrbuch der Anthropologic, Jena, 1914, p. 293.
E. A. Hooton
Limb proportions. No measurements of limb proportions are given in the 1803
drawings except the maximum transverse diameters of the thighs and the calves. But
M. Thibault in his side view drawing designates a point on the posterior surface of the
lower limb near the knee joint as 16 pouces (or inches) above the ground. There is no
doubt that he was designating the external point of the articulation of the femur with
the tibia, a point of measurement formerly used by French anthropologists. It is difficult
to find comparable data for this measurement, as most modern anthropometrists measure
the height of the lower leg from the tibiale on the medial side and in most tables of limb
proportions the height of the foot is subtracted. Topinard13 gives the mean height
from the external point of the articular interspace of the knee as 464 mm. in the case of
18 male Arabs and 458 mm. for 10 male negroes. In our subject this measurement is
433 mm. (pouces) or 406 mm. (inches). For the Arabs this measurement is 27.8% of the
mean stature; for the negroes 28.4%; in the case of this South African woman 28.2%.
On the basis of this comparison it seems apparent that the Hottentot woman approximates
the negro type in the relatively great length of the inferior segment of the lower limb,
especially when it is remembered that in females of all races the leg is proportionately
shorter than in males.
In the 1803 drawing no measurements of the upper extremity are given.
In the scale drawing by Thibault no measurements of the arm are indicated, but it
is possible to obtain the approximate length by marking the acromion point on the draw-
ing and measuring to the tip of the index finger, utilizing the scale. Thus the total length
of the arm was found to be about 690 mm. (pouces), 647 mm. (inches), or 45.1% of the
stature. This figure and the index would be slightly increased if it had been possible to
measure to the tip of the middle finger. Martin14 gives 45.5 as the mean relation of arm
length to stature for female Bushmen. Deniker 15 found an average index of five Hot-
tentot women to be 45.9 (44.4M7.7).
Hands and feet. Both Bushmen and Hottentots are generally stated to have very
small hands and feet. In both of our drawings the hands are represented as relatively
small. This is especially notable in the case of Thibault’s 1801 drawing. As the fingers
are not extended in this drawing, measurements cannot well be taken. The woman in
the 1803 drawing has typically Hottentot or Bushman feet,— very small and broad
anteriorly, with the great toe exceeding in length the second toe, and a very short fifth
toe. The 1801 drawing shows similar proportions in the relative lengths of the toes,
but the feet are large and coarse and the right foot measures approximately 234 mm.
13 P. Topinard, Anthropology, (English trans.), London, 1878, p. 333.
14 R. Martin, Lehrbuch der Anthropologic, Jena, 1914, p. 293.