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ETHXOLOG 



J. 4 



[Sect. XIII. 



should be followed by inquiries which belong to the 



department of physiology, which includes all that relates 

 to the functions of life. Under this head we must mention 

 inquiries respecting the senses or sensorial faculties. It 

 is well known that there are differences between the dif- 

 ferent tribes of men in regard to tlie perfection of these 

 facultieSj and tliat some of the nomadic nations of Higli 

 Asia^ for example^ have a remarkably acute siglit and 

 liearing. while other nations are equally noted for the 

 perfection of taste and smelL Observations on these par- 

 ticulars belong to the pliysical character of each tribe. 



Attempts should likewise be made to obtain informa- 

 tion as to the relative degrees of muscular strength in 

 Yarious races. An instrument invented for this purpose 

 has been termed the dynamometer. If it should not be 

 at hand, the same purpose may be answered by experi- 

 ments show'^g what weights a given number of men can 

 raise by their individual efforts. 



. Other physiological characteristics should be investi- 

 gated when opportunity can be found of obtaining infor- 

 mation thrtt may be satisfactory respecting them : ^uch 

 are the average length of life in any tribe ; the ages of 

 puberty and of the ce&bation of child-bearing, and all 

 other facts connected with the animal economy, such as 



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the number of children in families. Various questions 

 have been raised by physiologists as to the phenomena 

 corrnected with the functions of the female, whether they 

 are subject to simila.r laws in the different races of human 

 beings ; and although, generally speakhig, the result of 

 such inquiries has been to show that no important dif- 

 ference exists^ it is still right to pursue the inquiry in 



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