Wilson D. Wallis

Sex Differences in Cephalic Index during Growth

IFFERENCES in cephalic index observable between maturing males and females of a given human group have been generally believed to follow an invariable sex-determined course. During the process of growth three stages have been noted: (1) males under 7 years of age are more dolichocephalic than are females of the same age and group; (2) females from 8 to 16 years are the more dolichocephalic; (3) after puberty males resume and thereafter maintain a higher degree of long-headedness. Wissler (1930), Herskovits (1930), and Wallis (1931) described this fluctuating relationship and considered it a general human growth pattern. Wisslers impressive and brilliantly analyzed data from Hawaii consisted of six series of pure European, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Hawaiian stocks, and of four series of Hawaiian admixtures with the other groups. A series of American Negroes (Herskovits) and one of private school children from the United States (Wallis) seemed to confirm Wisslers thoroulgh work. The present study tests the universality assumed for these sex differences in headform in the age groups previously studied and extends the investigation to fetal life and to old age.

The Sins of the Fathers: Concept of Disease among the Canadian Dakota

DAKOTA, SANTEE SIOUX, OR ISANTI DAKOTA, live on four Reserves in western Manitoba. They are mainly descendants of Wapheton, Sisseton, and Mdewakanton who in 1862 rose up against the Whites in the Minnesota valley. A small number of the rebels crossed the Canadian border within a few months after the outbreak, were unwelcome squatters for years, and were given Reserves in 1875. Our field work was carried out on two Reserves: Sioux Village, on the outskirts of Portage La Prairie, and Oak River, near Griswold: at both Reserves in 1914 and in 1951; at Griswold in 1952.

Age Changes in Dimensions When One Dimension Is Constant

TI HE EARLY OBSERVATIONS of changes during growth call attention to changes in certain proportions, notably relative head size, arm length, leg length, and trunk length. To the present day, however, there is little information regarding the extent to which growth in some dimensions continues after it has temporarily ceased, or is retarded, in one dimension. Repeated measurements on the same individuals would yield most valuable information, but an adequate amount of such data is not now available. Our problem is: If we select children of the same sex who have the same stature, for example, 40 inches, and then arrange them by age groups, will there be a difference between these age groups in other dimensions, for example, in leg length, arm length, head length, trunk length? And, if so, to what extent? Only when individual values are recorded, or averages for dimensions when age and one other dimension are constant, can the data answer this question. There are few such published series. Available data show that during growth, when one dimension is constant, some dimensions increase with age, and some decrease. Apparently, the kind and amount of change varies with age; and in some dimensions, with sex. In general, there are increases in certain other dimensions at higher age levels when one dimension is constant. This is most apparent when stature is constant. There is no statistical reason why this should be so. The phenomenon is basically biologic. It is as though nature being thwarted in the increase of one dimension continues growth in another dimension. Thus, for a given stature, those who are older have achieved greater increments in certain other dimensions than have those of that stature who are younger. This is especially the case with regard to weight; and increased weight means increase in some dimensions. If