PATHOLOGICAL VARIETIES. 51 



which may approach it, by making us acquainted with the 

 pathological circumstances under which the European with a 

 white skin becomes almost as black as a Negro, and by iden- 

 tical anatomical modifications, have nearly proved that atmo- 

 spheric phenomena have not the influence which monogenists 

 give to them, and that the first origin of the colour of the 

 epidermis in the human race resides rather in the depths of 

 the organism, inaccessible to celestial radiation.* 



The varieties which the pilous system presents is the chief 

 point, and equal at least in importance to those of the cutaneous 

 system. If we think that a classification of races, based 

 simply upon the characteristics of the hair, as has been pro- 

 posed^ would leave much to be desired, and would be far too 

 artificial, we do not doubt, however, but that the pilous 

 system can furnish indications of great value when they have 

 been combined in a wise manner with other characteristics, as 

 Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire has done.J Doubtless, the 

 colours of the hair, from flaxen to black, and from brown to 

 red, are innumerable in France, and as generally so in countries 

 where the mixture of races has been carried as far as possible ; 

 but it must be remembered that among a purer population, less 

 mixed with foreign blood, the constancy of characteristics 

 taken from the hair is remarkably great. Besides, the differ- 

 ences which present themselves do not relate merely to colour ; 

 the hair of a race of men may be either smooth, or woolly, or 

 crisped, for in general these two latter terms are wrongly and 

 indifferently used, when they ought really to point out two 

 particular and distinct states. It is thus that the inhabitants 

 of Lower Nubia, for instance, who have a very deep shade of 

 colour, possess curled hair, truly woolly, and quite different to 

 that of the Negro, whose hair is really crisped. \\ Other cha- 



* See, upon this point, G. Pouchet, Des Colorations de I'Epiderme, 4to, 

 Paris, 1864. 



f Bory de Saint-Vincent divided mankind into Leucotriques and Ulotriques 

 (see Berard, Cours de Physiologie, 1848, vol. i, p. 394). Prichard refers all 

 these races to the three following types : 1. Melanocomous ; 2. Leucous ; 

 3. Xanthous (see English Cyclopaedia, art. "Man"). 



J Tableau Synoptique des Races Humaines (Mem. de la Societe d'Anthropo- 

 logie, vol. i, p. 143). 



See Pruner-Bey, De la Chevelure (Mem. de la Soc. d'Anthrop., vol. ii, p. 1). 



i| See Smith, The Natural History of the Human Species, p. 189. 



E2 



