506 SOMATOLOGY 



cegenation of races, the future of the black race on this continent, 

 and above all the problem of the possibility of the acclimatization 

 of the white race in the tropics. Such problems, apparently be- 

 longing to the realm of somatology, must rather be considered by 

 the statesman, who, indeed, may with profit apply for data to the 

 somatologist. The pure problems of somatology are racial: the 

 determination of the physical classification of the races of mankind, 

 their origin, development, and explanation. Other problems which 

 are to have great influence upon the future of the race have to deal 

 with the causes of heredity and environment which may make for 

 a higher physical type, and indeed in this problem enters the ques- 

 tion as to what constitutes the highest physical type, whether it be 

 stature, size of the brain, perfect adaptability to an upright gait, 

 color of skin, range of vision, acuteness of hearing, or sensitiveness 

 of taste and smell. 



What is the material available and applicable for the solution 

 of some of the problems which have been proposed, and what of 

 the methods which will best record, and especially contribute to- 

 ward the ultimate end of the solution of the problems of somato- 

 logy? The study of the races of the earth has been most extended, 

 but nevertheless has not been exhaustive. While anatomic obser- 

 vations and somatological data for many peoples in North and South 

 America and for great portions of Europe, and certain islands 

 of the Pacific, are available, yet even such observations, when we 

 consider the magnitude of the problems involved, fall far short 

 of the requirement. Observations of the internal anatomy of the 

 races of mankind are so scant as to be up to the present time 

 almost worthless in forming any extended deductions. Measure- 

 ments of skulls and skeletons have been made by the thousand, 

 and upon representatives of practically every type on the globe; 

 but it is only recently that the value and especially the correct 

 method of making such observations have been determined, and 

 it therefore becomes necessary not only to remake many of these 

 measurements, but to extend the work in a more systematic and 

 far-reaching manner. Of the causes and extent of influence of the 

 two great factors already alluded to, namely, heredity and geo- 

 graphic environment, but little progress has yet been made, al- 

 though recent investigations of Galton and Pearson have opened 

 up new paths in the study of heredity which are bound to throw 

 much light upon the problems which demand investigation. Again, 

 observations relating to the investigation of the laws of the ad- 

 mixture of races are still very scant, and the observations which 

 have so far been made are so few in number and of such a desul- 

 tory character and cover such a brief period of time as to be only 

 of value as indicating in a general way what we may hope to learn 



