Physical anthropology of Tarahumara Indians of northern Mexico

During an anthropological mission in northern Mexico, 108 individuals of both sexes, belonging to the ethnic group of Tarahumara of the district of Norogachi were examined. Anthropometric characters and some physiological and medical data were taken. In this paper our anthropometric data are compared with those of the same population, taken in 1898 by Hrdlicka and in 1925-26 by Basauri. Thus it results that their cephalic index increased, while the reduction of their bizygomatic diameter shows a process of slenderization (according to Debetz). From a physiological point of view it is interesting to observe the high percentage of tasters of P.T.C. lowest concentration, the absence of evident dischromatopsies, the presence of a moderate eosinophilia probably due to parasitosis. Finally, it is opportune to observe the presence of blood in the urine of 15.7% of males, probably connected with a cultural factor, that is kick-ball foot race on long distances.