42 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVIII. No. 706 



tion to time. This comprises a delicate 

 and thorough study of every specimen of 

 man of geological, and ample series of those 

 of historical, antiquity. Research as to the 

 bones of the geologically early man has 

 been painstaking, but the specimens them- 

 selves are still very limited in number and 

 imperfect ; while the study of man 's varia- 

 tions within the time of which there is 

 closer and finally historical knowledge, is 

 still in its infancy. The investigations 

 here mentioned relate principally to the 

 important phase of man's evolution as 

 man. 



The fourth leading object of physical 

 anthropology is the study of the human 

 races and their subdivisions. This subject 

 has attracted attention since the earliest 

 time, and contributions to the theme are 

 numerous as well as important ; yet the road 

 to go is still much longer than that already 

 traveled. The very term "race" awaits 

 as yet a definition that would be univer- 

 sally adopted. There are still immense 

 territories in Asia, Africa, Oceania and 

 America, concerning the populations of 

 which our knowledge is very rudimentary, 

 or wholly deficient; and the subdivisions 

 of the white race still ofiier a vast field 

 for further investigation. The apprecia- 

 tion of what remains to be done on the 

 races and tribes of man impresses one 

 forcibly with the fact that we are still only 

 in the beginnings of this study and barely 

 emerging from empiricism. The future 

 work in this special field must be more 

 extensive, systematized and critical. 



Directly connected with racial studies, 

 but of more serious concern to many na- 

 tions, are investigations into the effects on 

 the progeny, physical and potential, of 

 racial mixtures. Mixture of races is a 

 matter which can be brought largely under 

 control through law and through general 

 enlightenment. In view of this, a precise 

 knowledge on the subject is a necessity, and 



to furnish it must be one of the main aims 

 of anthropology. 



Next in sequence, but not in impor- 

 tance, are studies concerning the numerous 

 environmental groups of humanity — of 

 groups developed and continuing under 

 extremes of elevation, climate and nourish- 

 ment; or under the greatest specializations 

 in clothing, food, occupation or habits that 

 are liable to permanently affect the body 

 or its functions. All such conditions are 

 followed by functional and structural ac- 

 commodations of the system, and it is to be 

 determined how they eventually affect the 

 progeny. Learning the exact facts in 

 these lines is beset with great difficulties, 

 but the results are bound to be of much 

 practical, as well as scientific, utility. 



A still further extension of the studies 

 takes up the pathological groups of man- 

 kind, including the alcoholics, epileptics, 

 insane, idiots, perverts and other defectives 

 or degenerates, and also criminals. This 

 part of anthropological research is already 

 well advanced and has, with the help of 

 medical men, accomplished much of im- 

 mediate benefit to society. But the aims 

 of scientific work in this direction, a com- 

 plete knowledge of these classes, are yet 

 far from having been attained. Their 

 realization depends to a very large extent 

 upon the perfect understanding of the 

 normal contingent of the human family. 



Somewhat separate from all the preced- 

 ing are studies in human ontogeny, or 

 the development of the individual from 

 birth onward, in all divisions of mankind 

 and under all specific conditions. The con- 

 tributions to knowledge in this line have 

 already been substantial, though almost 

 restricted to the whites. One of the most 

 interesting parts of this study will be that 

 of man's decline in the different races and 

 under various definite conditions. 



Finally, the ultimate aim of physical 

 anthropology is to show, on the basis of 



