342 



PHYSIOLOGY 



CHAP. 



According to what we saw in Vol. I. p. 423, the vital capacity 

 of the German is 3222 cubic cm., that of the English 3772. 

 Deniker states that it varies in European races from 3000 to 4000 

 c.c. Gould gives the following figures applying to North 

 Americans : 



Eijkman says that there is no difference between the frequency 

 of the respiratory movements in Europeans and the inhabitants of 

 the tropics. 



We possess a relatively large number of data relating to the 

 strength and muscular work of the different races. 



Eanke points out that the average statistical data at our 

 disposal do not bear out the assertion, which has been made more 

 than once, that the muscular strength of Europeans is superior to 

 that of other races. 



Two methods were adopted for measuring work and muscular 

 strength : the first by calculating the maximum resistance to work, 

 such as marching, lifting weights, etc., and thence reckoning the 

 maximum production of the given work ; the other by making use 

 of ordinary dynamometers, by means of which it is possible to 

 measure the maximum effort of which any given contracting 

 muscle or group of muscles is capable. 



Of the results obtained by the former method, we will first 

 refer to those of Coulomb, who noticed that French soldiers 

 employed on levelling work in France and Martinique (lat. 26) 

 accomplished at the very outside half the amount of work in the 

 latter place. Other observations tend to show that Europeans are 

 unable to accomplish the same amount of work in the tropics as 

 they do at home. On the other hand we have instances of the 



