138 SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



diment employed by the natives of these countries, 

 and which constitutes their chief prophylactic, and 

 one of their most energetic remedies against the 

 disorder just named, By the side of the palms and 

 cocoa-tree grow the different species of the tamarind, 

 and the croton, and constitute the mildest and the 

 most drastic purgatives usually employed. Thus 

 provided with an abundance of the vegetable food 

 which such situations afford, and which is the most 

 suitable to his condition, man is enabled to exist 

 without suffering an undue proportion of disease, 

 whereas the adoption of an animal diet, while thus 

 circumstanced, would be soon followed by his own 

 destruction. 



In countries approaching the poles, where the 

 low temperature generally prevailing, tends to de- 

 press the nervous sensibility, and the vascular ac- 

 tivity, and to lower, in an eminent degree, the whole 

 circle of vital action ; we perceive that nature has 

 furnished man , with those articles of food, which 

 are the best calculated to stimulate and to nourish 

 the system, and thus to enable it to bear up against 

 the rigorous seasons to which it is exposed. The 

 articles of animal food already noticed as being 

 most abundant, in hyperborean regions, are thus the 

 most appropriate to the wants of the inhabitants. 

 Indeed, without food of this description they would 

 soon sink under those diseases of debility, which 

 the depressing influence of cold induces, and the 

 higher latitudes would consequently soon become 

 destitute of the human race. 



