306 THE PRESENT EVOLUTION OF MAN — PHYSICAL 



India, and therefore that the total death-rate of the 

 Europeans should be calculated rather on the basis of 

 " total loss " than of " deaths " when 'comparing it with 

 the " mortality, including absent deaths," of the natives. 

 The following table shows the extent of child sickness 

 and mortality among the whites in India : — 



STKENQTH, SICKNESS, AND MOETALITY OF 

 CHILDREN IN THE ARMY OF INDIA. 



It is not necessary to pursue this subject any farther. 

 I take it that the facts are indisputable. No one doubts 

 that races which dwell within the area infested by any 

 prevalent and death-dealing disease are more resistant 

 to it than races from beyond the area ; the only possible 

 question is as to how this difference in resisting power 

 arose. It is commonly said to be due to " acclimatiz- 

 ation," a word which, when applied to races, even by 

 the ignorant, is practically a synonym for evolution, 

 though this is not generally understood ; a race that has 

 undergone acclimatization is of course one that has 

 undergone evolution. But this acclimatization, this 

 evolution, is popularly supposed to result from the 

 accumulation of acquired traits. I trust I have suflSci- 

 ently proved that such is not the case, but that it results 

 solely from the accumulation of inborn variations. 



