On the Cretins of the Vallais, 273 



Africa to Carthagena and Panama, where the 

 climate is to the laft degree inhofpitable, and the 

 perfpiration of the body aftonifhing, produce 

 more of the white Indians than in any other part 

 of the new continent. 



The fame caufes regularly fubfifting, it may 

 be afked why they are not attended uniformly 

 with the fame efFedts. To refolve the difficulty, 

 may it not be queftioned, whether the humours of 

 certain perfons are not in fome fecret, unknown 

 ftate, which facilitates the metamorphofis. 



To thofe whofe ftudies lead them to inveftigate 

 the human frame, with its diforders, the fubject 

 is not altogether an uninterefting one. We owe 

 much to the labours of great and learned men 

 during the laft century; but, notwirhftanding the 

 rapid advances they have made in every part of 

 fcience, much remains to be yet done. A wide 

 field is ftill open for refearches into human nature, 

 and pofterity may, perhaps, difcover what we 

 have in vain attempted to explore. 



Vol. III. T A Descrip- 



