160 EUROPEAN ACCLIMATIZATION. 



seasons are reversed, the most rain falling from January 

 to June and the least from July to December, while 

 the temperature is maintained pretty constant all the 

 time, say from 86 to 88 degrees Fahr. in the shade 

 daily, with occasional increases of heat up to 90 F. 



The question as to how far Europeans may become 

 acclimatized by long residence in these climates, is 

 one which has always been keenly debated, but it 

 would be too long to cite the opinions of the various 

 authorities which have been consulted upon this im- 

 portant point; it must therefore suffice to briefly state 

 that although Europeans may reside for years at a 

 few exceptionally favourable stations where the nights 

 are comparatively cool, and where no endemic form of 

 malarial fever is prevalent, without feeling the worse 

 for it; yet the European never becomes acclimatized; 

 and the comparative immunity which experienced resi- 

 dents seem to acquire, is due rather to the adoption 

 of certain necessary precautions, taken at last almost 

 unconsciously to themselves, as part of their daily habits, 

 than to any immunity conferred by acclimatization. 



The newcomer on the other hand, brings out with 

 him a store of robust health from the temperate zone, 

 which for a time will often enable him to do things 

 which the old stager would never think of doing; 

 until at length he is perhaps suddenly cut down by 

 some attack of disease of a malignant type, not neces- 

 sarily the result of a deadly climate, but rather of 

 imprudence. It is against these preventible casualties 

 that the old resident has learned to protect himself. 

 These considerations, therefore, to a certain extent 

 enable us to discount the confident assertion of some 

 who tell us, " I lived for so many years, at such a 



