DETERMINATION OF SEX IN SKELETONS.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 82, 17 October 1877, Page 2

DETERMINATION OF SEX IN SKELETONS.

As ih'TP has been- a ijnnd deal of talk on Hie quontion of diji.erinmin<» theses in skeletons, sin co the Diniels .murder lias been reported upon, wo quote from the eminent authority, I)r Taylor, in bis work on- the principles and pnietinua of medic.-il jurisptidenoe, tlie following . — The skeleton of the female is smaller and more slender than t lint of a mile. The full-grower bone of a female is distinguished from that of a rnnle by its ridues, depressions, and' processes beintj less nvirked^— the shaft is smoother and more polished, while the. articular surfaces' arc flatter. The skull of the female is move contracted in front, and forms a longer oval from before backwards-. The. chest which is naturally shorter, smaller, and lesa- prominent than in the male, is somewhat wider ab ut the fourth rib ;it then contracts somewhat below, so that while tho greatest snap" of t'.u chest approaches to aiv oval in the feunle, it is conical in tho male skeleton, beinij wider at the base or lower p-irfc. The form of this cavity is often flattened laterally to a considerable extent, owing to the pressure of stays worn by females. This altered condition of tho ribs by pressure may serve to indicate the sex. The stornutn is shorter, terminating opposite the fourth pair of ribs. The ribs are shorter, more slender, and less arched,, and take a more horizontal course in tho female ;: their upper an I lower borders are sharper. The false ribs are proportionately larger; aud the cartilaginous portions of the true ribs arc louder than in (lie ajuk. The shoulders are lower, aud

i the scapulo-bunicral articulations nearer each other. The clavicles are more slender, more round, and pass in a more riijf ; it direction to j >iv the acrmiiu processes. I» tho male l.hey have some* what the form of the italic £; Ilicy are flatter, larger, and rua moro directly backwards* The female scapula is thiuner, smaller, flatter, and lias sharper annles than that of the male. The bodies of the vertebra are smaller, the hole for the spinal marrow and the foramina are larger; and the lumbar vertebra* have greater length than in- the mile. The tipper limbs areslionev, the carpus smaller, and the metacarpus and- phalanges are more slender in the fcinaie than in the male. The thigh-bones have a greater curvature forwards at the upper part, and are turned more obliquely inwards below. The neck of the thigh-bone in the-' female, forms nearly a right single with the shaftwhereby the trochantcr mdj>>r is brought, more nearly on a level with the head of the boue. In the male the neck of the femur is inclined obl-q.'iely upwards, iind the troctaanier major is below the- level of the lieadr In the female the internal oondyles are larger. The b-itres of the leg: arc more slender, ami those of the feet are smaller than in the male. The most remarkable difference is observed in the pelvis, and it is- by an examination of this portion of the adult skeleton, when it can- be obtained, that the sex may be most satisfactorily made out . In live- female. the ossu illi- are flatter and more certed, giving to tbe whole pelvis y greater capacity ; the os sacrum is broader, and turned more backwar- is ; the space between the open pubis larger, and Lite cartilage of the sym-phy.sis broader, The iiti^lo formed by tiie rsimi of the ossa pubis with the symphysis in larger. In a well-formed male skeleton I have fouud, the angle to be 7.3 1e.;., wlulo in a well* formed f'cniilc skeleton the an^le was eq,ml to yOdeg. Tue tuueroiites of the ossa isclni are flitter, ai>«.!- at a greater distance from eau.i other. The brim of the pelvis is wider and of an oval form, corresponding with the head ot a child, and tiie longest diameter extending between the pelvis- and the sacrum. The toramina ovalia in the temple are wider, and approach moiv to a triangular form t:iau in the m-de, lmio shuiy ;:ugle being &i the junction- ot the pubis with the ischium ; the acetab-ila are lufihu* dis* taut Iroia each- other. Tho pelvis of tUe female 'oses souiu of its well-marked t^-xual characters in advanced life. JU will be understood mat chese differences aro for the most purl relative, and some are so sligJit tiiat u.*y can scarcely t»e regard -nl as charau^unsiiu oi the sexes. G-re-il. dillioutty in tanning mi npuuoii will vxisi in luose cases- wliere ou.j a iiM^nient <>( (i bfiie cm i>« procured ; nut v uiodici witnes-i id not e^r-uted i.» wot'-.i uus, iinjjuSa.tiililus ;. it' lie lia.s a .sulHo,o;it portion 01 a skeleton belore him. t.c may Dj abte in (loivruiine the .sux., o;ii--n\i>e iL uould l-t> , dvisrtblo to sliilt; ih hi Uic riMu.uu.s produced did i*ot uiiiiulu linn t > answer Ine n.i<\s!iuii. find thai tme Imiw or a fragment might lnivo uelougrd ciiher tv am lie or a female.