Another anthropologically important region of the femur is the
subtrochanteric flattening, which, as well known, has been studied
in whites and in other races by Manouvrier and other observers.[57]
The flattening in question is situated below the minor trochanter,
reaching its maximum at approximately 3 cm. below that point. It yields
itself to two measurements, the maximum and the minimum diameter, and
the percental relation of the latter to the former constitutes the
platymeric index. This index is generally quite high in whites, in whom
the flattening is but moderate.
[57] See Hrdlička, Report on Additional Skeletal Remains from Arkansas
and Louisiana, _Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila._, XIV, 1909, pp. 215-216.
The next table shows the conditions found in this respect with regard
to the Munsee, the United States whites, and the United States negroes.
XLIX. COMPARISON OF THE PROPORTIONS AND INDEX OF THE SHAFT OF THE
FEMUR AT THE SUBTROCHANTERIC FLATTENING, IN THE MUNSEE, WHITES, AND
NEGROES. PAIRED BONES
MALES
----------------+-------------------------+------------------------
| Right | Left
+---------+--------+------+---------+--------+-----
|Diameter |Diameter|Index |Diameter |Diameter|Index
|maximum |minimum | |maximum |minimum |
----------------+---------+--------+------+---------+--------+-----
Munsee: | _cm._ | _cm._ | | _cm._ | _cm._ |
Specimens | (15) | (15) | (15) | (15) | (15) | (15)
Average | 3.23 | 2.37 | 73.3 | 3.38 | 2.38 | 71.6
United States | | | | | |
whites: | | | | | |
Specimens | (66) | (66) | (66) | (66) | (66) | (66)
Average | 3.25 | 2.69 | 82.8 | 3.24 | 2.73 | 84.1
United States | | | | | |
negroes: | | | | | |
Specimens | (6) | (6) | (6) | (6) | (6) | (6)
Average | 3.07 | 2.68 | 87.3 | 3.17 | 2.73 | 86.3
----------------+---------+--------+------+---------+--------+-----
FEMALES
----------------+---------+--------+------+---------+--------+-----
Munsee: | | | | | |
Specimens | (12) | (12) | (12) | (12) | (12) | (12)
Average | 2.88 | 2.17 | 75.5 | 3.03 | 2.17 | 71.7
United States | | | | | |
whites: | | | | | |
Specimens | (28) | (28) | (28) | (28) | (28) | (28)
Average | 2.94 | 2.39 | 81.1 | 3.0 | 2.39 | 79.6
United States | | | | | |
negroes: | | | | | |
Specimens | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7)
Average | 3.02 | 2.42 | 80.1 | 2.97 | 2.44 | 82
----------------+---------+--------+------+---------+--------+-----
It will be observed, in the first place, that at the middle of the
shaft the mean of the two diameters at the upper flattening in the
Munsee is smaller in both sexes and on both sides than that in either
the whites or the negroes, thus indicating that the bone is more
slender.
The most striking points brought out by the data are, however, those
relating to the degree of the flattening in the subtrochanteric region
in the different racial groups. The Munsee femora are decidedly flatter
than those of the whites, which in turn are slightly flatter than
those of the negro. As a result the platymeric index in the Munsee is
considerably below that in both the other races.
Taking the two diameters separately it will be observed that the
diameter maximum or breadth is frequently larger in the left than in
the right femur. This is true in both sexes among the Munsee and in the
white females and negro males. In the white males the measurement is
equal on the two sides, and in the negro females it is slightly larger
on the right than on the left. In all probability the tendency of the
left femur to be slightly broader than the right at the subtrochanteric
flattening is quite universal.
The lateral diameter or thickness is also slightly larger in the left
femur in nearly all the racial and sex groups, but the excess is less
than with the breadth. It is thus evident that the left femur at this
point is in general slightly stronger than the right. But, as already
indicated, the mean excess in breadth is mostly greater than that in
thickness, the result of which in most of the groups is a slightly
lower platymeric index on the left side.
As to sexes, the platymeric index in the Munsee is slightly higher on
both sides in the females than in the males. This is exceptional for
Indians, the condition being usually the reverse. In the United States
whites and United States negroes, and in Indian tribes other than
the Munsee examined by the writer, the male femur as a rule gives a
somewhat higher average index on both sides than the female, indicating
that the flattening in the male is of lesser degree.
As to the sides, in the majority of the groups, and particularly in the
Munsee, the right platymeric index is slightly higher than the left. In
the Arkansas and Louisiana Indians it was very nearly equal on the two
sides in both sexes. In the series of United States white males used
here for comparison, and in the United States negro females, the right
index is higher. Evidently, while the preponderant tendency is for
the right platymeric index to be slightly higher than the left, there
are not infrequent exceptions, but the differences are not of much
importance.
To summarize, it may be stated that at the subtrochanteric flattening
the Munsee femur shows a decidedly greater compression than the femora
of the United States whites, and especially those of United States
negroes; it shows a slightly greater relative flatness in the male than
in the female, which is exceptional; and in the majority of cases it is
relatively slightly flatter on the left than on the right side of the
body.
These details may seem rather involved, and perhaps in some instances
of no great consequence. But when at some time we shall be able to
examine scores of records where we have now but few, and each series
of records extending to hundreds instead of to only tens of specimens,
the above points will assume a definite morphological importance,
demonstrating on the one side the presence of astonishingly uniform and
persistent laws relating even to secondary characteristics of bones,
and, on the other, to clear, conspicuous, racial sexual and other group
differences.