Chapter LXXXIV: Astragalus in the Munsee and in United States Whites

MALES
--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------
|Specimens|Length,|Breadth,|Height,|Module |Breadth-|Height-
Group | |maximum|maximum |maximum| |length |length
| | | | | |index |index
--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------
| | _cm._ | _cm._ | _cm._ | _cm._| |
Munsee | (24) | 5.7 | 4.28 | 3.26 | 4.42 | 75.0 | 57.2
United | | | | | | |
States | | | | | | |
whites| (50) | 6.29 | 4.48 | 3.32 | 4.7 | 71.2 | 52.8
--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------
FEMALES
--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------
Munsee | (28) | 5.2 | 3.91 | 3 | 4.04 | 75.1 | 57.9
United | | | | | | |
States | | | | | | |
whites| (33) | 5.75 | 4.02 | 3.11 | 4.29 | 69.8 | 54
--------+---------+-------+--------+-------+-------+--------+-------

In the examination of the os calcis, special attention was directed to its facets, especially the middle and anterior, for the astragalus. Inspection of the corresponding facets on the astragalus shows that these do not harmonize fully with those of the os calcis. They are less differentiated and more frequently connected or fused. Thus we have among 60 Munsee astragali, 28, or approximately 47 per cent which show only one facet corresponding to the anterior and middle facets of the calcaneus, without any dividing line; 29, or 48 per cent, with one facet divided more or less completely by a ridge; and only three specimens, or 5 per cent, in which there are two distinct facets, though in but one of these are they separated by a moderate space. In the astragalus of the whites the proportions of these different forms are by no means the same as in the Munsee. Thus among 82 bones there are but 24, or 29 per cent, with one facet not divided by any ridge; 35, or 43 per cent, with one facet divided by a ridge; and no fewer than 23, or 28 per cent, of those in which there are two distinct facets, in 19 of which they are completely separated by a narrow to moderate space. The frequency of two facets well separated is therefore much greater among the whites than among the Munsee, which is another interesting distinction in the astragalus of these two groups and possibly of the two races which they represent. This is the more remarkable as no corresponding difference has been found in the facets on the os calcis.

_Scaphoid_

There are three additional bones of the tarsus which deserve somewhat detailed scrutiny, namely, the scaphoid or navicular, the cuboid, and the internal cuneiform. Although irregular in shape, each one of these bones yields to three measurements, which differ in the two sexes as well as racially, and each presents a number of points for observation.

The measurements taken by the writer on the scaphoid as well as on the other tarsal bones are, it may be repeated, the most practicable ones, and relate as closely as possible to the three principal dimensions of the specimens. In the case of the scaphoid they are the greatest breadth, height, and stoutness.

The results of the measurements of the scaphoid in the Munsee appear in the next table. The bone in the male is very perceptibly larger than that in the female, and that of the right foot is in both sexes and in all dimensions somewhat larger than that of the left. These conditions are shown nicely by the module or mean diameter of the bone.

The three measurements give rise to two indexes, which indicate the relative proportions of the scaphoid. The height-breadth index is somewhat larger on both sides in the females than in the males, which, as will readily be seen by reference to the actual dimensions, is due to the relatively greater breadth of the Munsee scaphoid in the males. No special difference is observable on the two sides of the body in the males, but in the females the right bone is relatively higher than the left.

The stoutness-breadth index offers no special differences either on the two sides or in the two sexes.