 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
30
Hereditary Genius
it will be found that their deviations from the average, follow theoretical
computations with remarkable accuracy. The instance is as follows. M.
Quetelet obtained his facts from the thirteenth volume of the Edinburgh
Medical Journal, where the measurements are given in respect to 5, 738
soldiers, the results being grouped in order of magnitude, proceeding by
differences of one inch. Professor Quetelet compares these results with
those that his tables give, and here is the result. The marvellous accordance
between fact and theory must strike the most unpractised eye. I should say
that, for the sake of convenience, both the measurements and calculations
have been reduced to per thousandths:—
Measures of
the chest in
inches.
Number of
men per
1,000, by
experience.
Number of
men per
1,000, by
calculation.
Measures of
the chest in
inches.
Number of
men per
1,000, by
experience.
Number of
men per
1,000, by
calculation.
33
5
7
41
1628
1675
34
31
29
42
1148
1096
35
141
110
43
645
560
36
322
323
44
l60
221
37
732
732
45
87
69
38
1305
1333
46
38
16
39
1867
1838
47
7
3
40
1882
1987
48
2
1
I will now take a case where there is a greater dissimilarity in the
elements of which the average has been taken. It is the height of 100,000
French conscripts. There is fully as much variety in the French as in the
English, for it is not very many generations since France was divided into
completely independent kingdoms. Among its peculiar races are those of
Normandy, Brittany, Alsatia, Provence, Bearne, Auvergne—each with their
special characteristics; yet the following table shows a most striking
agreement between the results of experience
 |
|
 |
|