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certain, otherwise spontaneous recovery from malarial 

 infection could not take place "; and he refers to some self 

 defending physiological element of the body, the daily 

 variation of which by deficiency or debility causes the 

 intermittency of malarial fever. This testimony leads one 

 to enquire whether the white race, sprung from aboriginal 

 stock of a tropical climate has, owing to the effect of change 

 of environment, lost some portion of its original protective 

 phy-m-al powers, ami that this less may possibly he repaired. 



but a child as compared with men to-day. But however 

 this may be, as regards his mind and active stage of 

 civilization, we are not precluded from the view that his 

 physical condition was at least as vigorous and well 

 developed as that of the average man to day. 



Papuans and Polynesians.— Have we not at hand an 

 important illustration in the Papuan and Polynesian races? 

 The Polynesians (including the Maoris) are physically some 

 Of the finest specimens of the human race, and they and 

 the Papuans are both of Asiatic origin ; but the Papuans, 

 or many of them, are said to have physically deteriorated, 

 possibly by long residence in a malarial climate. The 

 Fijians, who are said to combine the physique of the Poly- 

 nesians with the language and colour of the Papuans, 

 evidencing an ancient adjustment of racial conditions, are 

 admittedly of magnificent physique; but this is to some 

 extent accounted for by the fact that malarial fever is said 

 to be unknown in Fiji. Are we to set down the differences 

 between the Fijians and the Papuans as nothing more than 

 essent ially the results of malaria? If the darker race is now 

 subject to its ill effects, and these effects can be combated, 

 then may not the white races claim that similar results 

 would follow in their case eventually? If so, then we may 

 have to reconsider the sufficiency of such statements as 



