476 



HUNTINGTON— GUATEMALA AND THE 



[April i8, 



numbers and to progress in culture appear to be high altitude, good 

 drainage, and a fairly long, dry season. Altitude in itself, how- 

 ever, does not appear to be essential, for the low dry plain of 

 northern Yucatan seems as well off as the highlands of Guatemala. 

 Perhaps the exposure of that part of Yucatan to the ocean and to 

 strong winds from the north produces the same effect as elevation. 

 Opposed to these favorable conditions stand those which conspire 

 to hold man back and keep him in a low stage of civilization. Omit- 

 ting low altitude, which is important merely because of its effect on 

 other factors, we are confronted by four chief conditions, — first, 

 the prevalence of fevers; second, the prevalence of great heat and 

 moisture almost without change from season to season ; third, the 

 difficulty of carrying on permanent, intensive agriculture and fourth, 

 the relative ease of getting a living in the jungle. 



Little by little the world is learning that the most dangerous dis- 

 eases are not necessarily those which show the highest deathrate. 



