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Remarks upon the Physical Constitutmi of the Arabians, who 

 may he considered as the Prototype or Primitive Race of the 

 Species, By M. Larrey.* 



During our expedition to Egypt, at the close of the last cen- 

 tury, I directed a large share of my attention to the study of 

 the physical condition of its inhabitants, and especially to that 

 of the Arabians. With this object in view, I made extensive 

 anatomical researches into the physical constitution of many 

 individuals, of both sexes and of all ages, whom we were in the 

 habit of attending in particular wards of our military hospitals. 

 I also prepared skeletons, and a great number of crania, which 

 were deposited, along with many other objects of natural his- 

 tory, in my house at Cairo, into which, during my absence at 

 Alexandria, the plague was introduced. Upon this the Com- 

 mission of Health of Central Egypt ordered the whole of the 

 contents of the mansion to be burned, and thus my collection 

 was destroyed. But notwithstanding this misfortune, I rejoice 

 that I had noted in my journal, and in my work Relation Chi- 

 rurgicale deVArmee d^Oricjit, the chief peculiarities of the phy- 

 sical constitution and of the character of these Arabs. 



I shall now add to this sketch the result of the additional 

 researches which I have made, whether individually or with the 

 assistance of associates,-]- both in Egypt, and more extensive- 

 ly over Africa ; and which specially refer to the external forms 

 of individuals of this nation, to the structure and density of 

 their osteology, to the conformation of their internal and exter- 

 nal organization, and to their instinctive faculties. 



This interesting people, undoubtedly one of the most ancient 

 in the world, have their chief residence in that immense coun- 

 try, which, on the one hand, separates the Red Sea from the 

 Persian Gulf, and on the other, the Mediterranean from the 

 Indian Ocean. The mild and salubrious climate of this coun- 



* Drawn up for the use of the Scientific Commission which is about to 

 proceed to the French possessions in Africa. — Comj^t, R^nd. No. 23, Juin 1838. 



•f- Dr Guyon, Chief Surgeon or the] Military Hospitals in Africa,1has 

 especially supplied me with a numhei' of valuable observations. 



