18.01.2013 Views

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

arrive at any precise result. Dr. Beddoe has lately<br />

proved that, with the inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Britain,<br />

residence in towns and certain occupations<br />

have a deteriorating influence on height; and he<br />

infers that the result is to a certain extent inherited,<br />

as is likewise the case in the United States.<br />

Dr. Beddoe further believes that wherever a<br />

"race attains its maximum <strong>of</strong> physical development,<br />

it rises highest in energy and moral<br />

vigour." (19. 'Memoirs, Anthropological Society,'<br />

vol. iii. 1867-69, pp. 561, 565, 567.)<br />

Whether external conditions produce any other<br />

direct effect on man is not known. It might<br />

have been expected that differences <strong>of</strong> climate<br />

would have had a marked influence, inasmuch<br />

as the lungs and kidneys are brought into activity<br />

under a low temperature, and the liver and<br />

skin under a high one. (20. Dr. Brakenridge,<br />

'<strong>The</strong>ory <strong>of</strong> Diathesis,' 'Medical Times,' June 19<br />

and July 17, 1869.) It was formerly thought that<br />

the colour <strong>of</strong> the skin and the character <strong>of</strong> the

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!