184 



Desor regarded the climate of New England as more closely 

 resembling that of the high Alps than that of any other 

 part of Europe. 



The President said, he agreed with Mr. Desor in his 

 opinion as to the comparative quantity of rain in New 

 England and Central Europe. He also alluded to the fact, 

 that stimulants are much more exciting to the physical 

 system here than there. 



Mr. Desor added, that Germans observe that they lose 

 flesh after their arrival in America. 



The President said, he had no doubt foreigners lose flesh 

 in coming to America, and that the Americans are, as a 

 race, thinner than the Europeans. Formerly, this fact was 

 attributed in New England to the large quantities of cider 

 drank ; but this opinion must have been erroneous, as this 

 practice has almost died out and the fact remains. Possi- 

 bly the dryness of the air may have something to do with it, 

 from its constringing properties. 



Mr. Briggs said, that he had noticed that English work- 

 men, who had been accustomed at home to drink from four 

 to six quarts of beer daily, are quite unable to drink that 

 quantity in New England without intoxication. In Mis- 

 souri, at a temperature of 120° and an atmosphere so 

 humid that with a dew-point at 90° the roads were made 

 muddy by the condensed moisture, he had noticed that men 

 could drink very large quantities of stimulants without 

 intoxication. On the other hand, at the present season of 

 the year, the air of New England is so nearly anhydrous, 

 that such articles as raw hides dry at a point several degrees 

 below freezing, without being frozen. 



Dr. Cabot said, that he had frequently heard it remarked 

 by gentlemen from Europe, that they found the climate of 

 New England very stimulating to the nervous system. 



Mr. Bouve thought that very many of the differences of 

 custom betvyeen the English and Americans might be 

 directly or indirectly traced to the differences of climate as 

 the sole cause. 



