BY HON. W. F. TAYLOR, M.D. XXXV 



iimes. The northern coastal climate is no doubt trying to 

 Europeans, but under certain conditions its effects may be much 

 mitigated. 



HABITS AND CLIMATE. 



In all tropical countries that I have a knowledge of, the 

 Europeans seek to adapt themselves to the requirements of the 

 ■climate instead of vainly endeavouring to make the climate 

 .adapt itself to the requirements of the people, as is too much 

 the case here. This warfare with nature can only be 

 maintained at a great sacrifice of strength and comfort, and 

 must in the end prove disastrous to those concerned in it. 

 True, the European of adult age can stand a good deal in the 

 way of heat and hardship, and the effect of living under such 

 conditions may not be immediately apparent so far as the adult 

 male population is concerned ; but the women, and more especially 

 the children, pay heavily for this mode of existence. The 

 former prematurely age, and suffer from many physical 

 disabilities ; the latter rapidly lose the natural plumpness of 

 childhood, are apt to grow up weedy, and Avithout any proper 

 muscular development, and if sent to school, in a short time 

 may acquire some form of curvature of the spine from the 

 want of a back to the benches on which they sit, and the 

 awkward position they are obliged to assume when writing, 

 ■owing to the height of the desk. This mafter is of very serious 

 importance, and should demand the careful consideration of the 

 'Department of Education. 



SCHOOL CHILDREN. 

 I am informed that in some of the northern coast schools it 

 is very difficult to induce the children to sit up properly. 

 Suffering as they do from the enervating effects of a hot moist 

 climate and having nothing to lean against, they soon get tired 

 and drop into any position which affords most ease. The 

 relative height .of the seat and desk should be adjusted to the 

 size of the children so that they may sit upright when writing, 

 instead of leaning often arms and head on the desk. This 

 diagram (Plate I.) illustrates the condition of things as usually 

 found. These two boys are of different sizes, and the desk at 

 which they are writing is too high for either of them. One 



