[Postmortem evaluation of constitution types in relation to the metric index (author's transl)].

The comparison of the metric index (by Strömgren) and the Brugsch-index revealed the following: 1. In the present time the frequency of the various constitution types differs from that during the 2nd world war (by Selberg). In men as well as in women pyknics are most frequent. 2. The frequency of the constitution types of living persons - determined by the metric index - corresponds to that of persons autopsied. Therefore the metric index may be applied to persons deceased. 3. A linear statistical correlation exists between the Brugsch- and the metric index. 4. Both indices show correlations to the basic disease: Patients with a malignant tumour are much more often of athletic than of leptosome or pyknic constitution. Persons with arteriosclerotic and hypertensive diseases as a cause of death are more often of pyknic constitution. In practice not only one but several indices should be considered.