DIFFERENCES OF STATURE. 369 



The consideration of monstrous productions belongs to 

 pathology and pliysiology, rather t^^an to the natural history 

 of our species. I have given a description of them, with 

 some remarks on their production, in the fifth volume of 

 the Medico-chirurgical Transactions. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Differences of Stature. — Origin and Transmission of Varieties 

 in Form. 



No part of the natural history of man has been more con- 

 fused and disgraced by fables and hyperbolical exaggera- 

 tion, than the present division. Not to mention the pig- 

 mies and giants of antiquity, the bones of different large 

 animals, ascribed to human subjects of immoderate'stature, 

 even by such men as Buffon, sufficiently prove our asser- 

 tion. The accuracy of modern investigation has, however, so 

 completely exposed the extravagance of such suppositions, 

 that they do not require very detailed consideration. 



There is no fixed law determining invariably the human 

 stature ; although there is a standard, as in other species of 

 animals, from which the deviations, independently of dis- 

 ease or accident, are not very considerable in either direc- 

 tion. In the temperate climates of Europe, the height of the 

 human race varies from four feet and a half to six feet. In 

 dividuals of six feet and some inches are not uncommon in 

 this and other European countries. Occasional instances 

 have been known, .in various parts of the world, of men 

 reaching the height of seven, eight, or even nine feet; and 

 ancient, and even modern authors, speak of the human sta- 

 ture reaching ten, and even eighteen feet. The latter re- 

 presentations are grounded on large bones dug out of the 

 earth. These, together with the common propensity to 

 believe and report what is marvellous, and the notion that 



B B 



