On the Aborigines of Brazil. 13 



days, are very seldom copious, and occur commonly with 

 great regularity from month to month, at times however, 

 along with various hysterical affections. The catamenia ap- 

 pear to vary little in quantity according to the season of the 

 year. We may assume that they continue in a few cases up 

 to the 50th year, but commonly cease between the ages of 

 42 and 47.* Whatever, however, may be the case as to the 

 actual quantity of blood in the American Indian, it may be 

 safely assumed, that from his coarse and commonly very un- 

 nutritious diet, he is often in a condition to produce only a 

 little blood. 



On the whole we may say, that the Indian, although com- 

 monly the inhabitant of warm localities, has but cold blood 

 in his veins. For this reason, his cutaneous transpiration is 

 scanty and cold. This strikes a European most, when he 

 extends his hand to a red man. He then always receives a 

 damp cold pressure, quite different from that of the Ethio- 

 pian, who has warm blood in his hand. There is perhaps 

 some similarity in this respect with the Malays, whose 

 hands generally feel damp and cold.f 



* All this is vague and unsatisfactory, and given merely on hearsay evidence : 

 it is probable, that the date of the appearance and of the disappearance of the cata- 

 menia is tolerably uniform in all races, especially under similar sexual relations. 

 Even allowing for the premature marriages of this country, we find that of ]27 

 natives of Bengal, the date of whose first menstruation has been recorded by Dwar- 

 kanath Das Bosu, the majority began to menstruate at the age of 14, the same age 

 as that at which the majority of 1,100 women in London(Med. Gazette, vol. xxxi. 

 p. 162, ) commenced menstruating. The old belief of the very late appearance of 

 the catamenia in women of northern latitudes, and their very early appearance in 

 those of warmer countries, has been gradually giving way, as accurate collections 

 of facts have been made, and must be greatly modified. The opinions of authors as 

 brought together by Prichard, vol. i. are very confused. It might be inferred from 

 the analogy of the vegetable world, that removal from one climate to another would 

 influence the date of the appearance of the catamenia, and this is probably the case, 

 but we want facts on the subject. — Tr. 



f The cold clammy feel of the hands of the natives of India is a common subject 

 of remark. The usual reasons assigned for it, poorness of blood, and languor of 

 circulation, are hardly sufficient to explain it, when we remember, that according 

 to the most trustworthy observations, the temperature of the body of man in a 

 state of health is the same in all climates and under all circumstances. — Tr. 



