20I 



went about like a roaring lion, but so far from seeking 

 who77t it might devour it solved any such difficulty by 

 speedily devouring all that came within its reach. 

 Within six months it killed 40,000 out of a total 

 population of 120,000. Take again the disease of 

 inborn hereditary craving for alcohol, of course 

 leaving: out of account that variety which is due to 

 habit caused by the special environment of the indi- 

 vidual, and which is therefore properly regarded as an 

 individually acquired characteristic to be dealt with, 

 as it is, b}^ education and public opinion. Here we 

 find whole countries, such as Spain and Portugal, 

 comparatively immune against the disease of inborn 

 drunkenness. A certain amount of immunity, 

 though less in degree, is found among those Central 

 African tribes who have been accustomed to periodi- 

 cally brew palm beer and to drink it while fresh, i.e. 

 also periodical!}'. But, says Archdall Reid in one of 

 his articles on Heredity,"' " other savages, such as 

 those inhabiting the New World, America, Australia, 

 and Polynesia, who have never manufactured alcohol 

 in even the most dilute solutions, delight in it so 

 intensely that, given the opportunity, thej^ drink to 

 their own extinction," and so are shewn to possess no 

 immunity at all. 



Coming nearer to our own special subject: — the 

 Kaffir, finding on the veldt a dead and half putrefied 

 ox, rejoices greatly, calls together his friends and 

 relations, and with them settles down to an orgy of 

 gluttony in which goodness knows how many pounds 

 of septic entrails and meat are eaten per head. Any- 

 how they can actually be seen to swell as they keep on 

 for hours eating the revolting stuff amidst the awful 

 smell. The only result is that they sleep the deep 

 sleep of repletion, digesting their filth\^ contents the 

 while, and wake up happy, contented, and ready for 



* British Medical Journal, .Sept. i6, 1899. 



