Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/553

 STUDY OF WOMEN CRIMINALS 537

headache when she could not recall the name, or cloves for toothache. Without these associations they would not have recognized the odor. Definite associations make the results more favorable.

The test for hearing was the familiar one taken with a watch. One ear was closed with cotton, and the subject, with her eyes closed, was required to state when she heard the watch and when she did not. The watch was first held close to the ear, and gradually moved outward., until the judgment became inaccurate. Then the watch was started from a point where it could not be heard, and moved forward until the judgments were accurate. By this method numerous defects were found. For fifty-seven subjects I found the distance for the right was 4.7 feet; left, 5.4 feet. In twelve cases there were marked defects in both ears, or great discrepancies between the two.

In some cases I could ascertain no reasons ; in others I found such causes as catarrhal and scrofulous diseases. Many defects were explained by the subject upon the ground of injuries, and, judging from the condition in which many of the women arrived at the workhouses, I am inclined to accept this as an explanation.

A fatigue test was taken for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of physical endurance and the amount of will-power. The subject was required to rest her hand upon the table so her index finger rested upon the pendulum of a pair of weighing scales suspended from a standard. At a signal she was required to pull the pendulum down as far as possible, and hold it steady for thirty seconds. The rate of decrease from the maximum pull to the minimum pull was taken as the indication of fatigue. The results show the students to have an inferior pull, but more endurance. The energy of the delinquent seemed to come in a burst, and was followed by a rapid decrease. The students showed greater conserving power. The maximum pull for the delinquents sometimes exceeded twelve pounds, while that of the students did not exceed ten. Average rate of decrease for the delinquents was 2.4 pounds; students, 1.6 pounds.

For ascertaining defects in eyesight, reading different sizes of type at a distance of four feet was used. The subject began