TEMPERAMENTS. 



317 



In Table III. we have the ratio of disease to complexion. In this, 

 the light complexions show their marked predisposition to skin-dis- 

 eases; and, notwithstanding their free lung-expansion, show a nearly 

 equal liability to diseases of the respiratory organs with those of dark 

 skins. The light men prove their greater glandular and muscular ac- 

 tivity by their excess over dark in diseases of the digestive, circula- 

 tory, and locomotor systems ; while the dark group, although com- 

 posed largely of men of nervous temperament, nearly equal the light 

 in frequency of nervous disease. It is interesting to note that, in the 

 same table from which Table III. is compiled, Dr. Baxter gives the 

 total of dark men rejected for all diseases at 38,916, and of the light, 

 83,700, a difference rather less than that indicated by the mean differ- 

 ence as exhibited in our table. In general diseases, which include 

 fevers, infectious diseases, and all others not confined locally, we find 

 the light men leading the dark by a difference only equaled by their 

 excess over the latter in diseases of the digestive system. This is 

 due, I think, in a great measure to the predisposition of the sanguine 

 to diseases of the febrile or inflammatory type, as has been already 

 mentioned. 



TABLE IV. Ratio of Deformities to Complexion. 



Table IV. srives an idea of the ratios of deformities in the two 

 groups, and, while not proving much either way, presents a few facts 

 of great interest. It will be observed that the physical defect which 

 shows the greatest difference, and that in favor of the dark class, is 

 deficient size of the chest. In view of the fact that light men exhibit 

 a larger range, of chest-expansion, this excess in the defective size of 

 the chest is unlooked for. The other chest-defect is deformity, in 

 which the difference in ratio in the two groups is only about .18. The 

 fact that two classes are made in the chest-deformities leads me to 

 suppose that the deformities are congenital, or the result of defective 

 development in childhood ; while the deficiency in size is the result 

 of disease or injury later in life. This supposition opens the way to 

 an explanation of the phenomenon. Owing to the greater liability of 



