2401. Detailed Descriptions of Plates and Measurements [centered score] 1. Development of mean stature, or standing height. To measure the stature of a person, have him remove his shoes, and stand with heels together and back to the wall, erect as possible, eyes looking straight forward. The measurer may use a squared block of wood, or the back of a thick pamphlet. Hold it square against the vertex or top of the head and also in square and vertical contact with the wall, and mark on the wall the height of the vertex. If the hair is thick, part it from the vertex to get as close to the scalp as possible. Then, with an accurate measuring scale, straight edge, or tape, measure in a vertical line the distance of the vertex from the floor. Measure twice and take the better (taller) of the measurements, or their average. 2. Yearly increment of stature, American males. Data for this chart are obtained by subtracting the stature on the birthday of one year from the stature on the birthday of the next following year. The rods in the diagram represent the mean yearly increment between the years of age indicated by the figures at the bottom of the chart. The short horizontal lines indicate the standard deviation of increments for the respective ages. The increment of the subject whose development is being plotted may be indicated by a horizontal line at the appropriate level of millimeters or inches, as indicated on the left of the diagram. 3. Development of the mean weight, American males. The individual is to be weighed without clothing or with clothes whose weight is subsequently determined and subtracted from the weight with clothes. The weight can be recorded either in pounds or kilograms. 4. Development of mean absolute sitting height, American males. Sitting height can be determined by placing a flat topped box or child's table about two feet high against the wall. The subject sits on this box with his back to the wall and the height of the vertex is measured as in chart 1. The height of the vertex above the flat surface of the box or table is then determined by a graduated rule or tape. Chairs are usually not suitable because the bottom is ordinarily not flat. A narrow table three feet high may be used if the subject places his feet on a chair. [end]