820 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



the same extent with our Aryan brother as with the Africans. 

 With small abrasions and ulcers healthy granulations are the 

 exception, lymphatic abscesses are a frequent result, and belong 

 to a low phlegmonous type, pyaemia often supervening. Perfo- 

 rating ulcers of the feet and gangrene about the toes bear evidence 

 to a poorness of local nutrition, and a low vital tone of some of 

 the tissues, also shown by the fact that necrosis of bone is a much 

 more frequent sequela to blows than with hardier nations. 



Another point that I have noticed is that minor ailments, such 

 as coryza, etc., take a much more severe course than that with 

 which we are acquainted. 



Both the Indians and Africans are much less subject to ill 

 effects from changes of temperature than are Europeans. This 

 is perhaps to be expected in tropical climates, and may be due to 

 the excellent way in which their sweat-glands respond to an extra 

 call upon them, consequent probably on their scantier clothing 

 and less constant interference with the natural skin-functions. 

 Also, in spite of their thin cotton garments, sudden and tempo- 

 rary exposure to a winter climate produces a very small percent- 

 age of sickness among them, though those who do suffer become 

 really ill. True, they grow torpid and incapable of much work ; 

 but, if Europeans were exposed as much as I have seen these 

 darker races, I feel sure a very much larger proportion of them 

 would soon be on the sick-list. 



Chinese and Japanese make much better patients. They have 

 faith, want to recover, and endeavor to do so. They are fairly 

 tractable and obedient, their average constitution is more robust, 

 and they are not destitute of moral courage ; consequently treat- 

 ment yields in their case better results. 



Among European nations I have been much struck with the 

 difference in the course of sickness between the Teutonic and the 

 French people. For instance, I have witnessed the effects of 

 extreme heat in the Red Sea, through which I passed seven times 

 in a single year. The phlegmatic German, from sheer stolidity, 

 stays exposed to the sun until he feels queer, then comes below 

 and takes a large draught of beer, which, of course, makes him 

 much worse. His condition soon becomes one of typhoid delirium 

 bordering on stupor, but he is easily treated, and soon recovers. 

 Now, look upon the other picture. The fussy Frenchman, from 

 rank obstinacy, exposes himself to a high temperature, and on 

 feeling ill becomes at once fearfully alarmed, wants to try every 

 remedy at once and nothing long, blames every one but himself, 

 grows noisily delirious, and finally works himself into a state 

 of extreme exhaustion which materially adds to the gravity of 

 his case. 



The above personal observations have led me to search out 



