On the Cretins of the Vallais, 16 1 



On the Cretins of the Vallais j hy Sir Richard 

 Clayton, Bart. 



READ M A Y 9, I787. 



MANKIND has been divided by Linnaeus 

 into four feparate claffes, to each of 

 which he has afligned fome charafteriftic differ- 

 ence in point of difpofition. The European and 

 American, the African and Afiatic receive, regu- 

 larly, it Ihould feem according to his fyftem, 

 an imprefTion from the climate, which adheres 

 to them through life, unlefs it have been weak- 

 ened or overpowered by their having left their 

 native country in very early infancy*. Other 

 naturalifts have remarked a like degree of its 

 influence in the formation and difpofition of 

 animals in general, and its empire has been ex- 

 tended by fome, even to the vegetable world f. 

 The obfervation is indeed an old one. Hippo- 

 crates has a long chapter J in which he treats of 

 the air, water, and particular fituations, and 



* Buffon. Hid. Naturelle. De Generation des Animaux. 



t Wilfon on the Influence of Climate on Vegetable 

 .and Animal Bodies. 



X Sea. III. p. 280. Editio Foefii. 



S 3 he 



