176 



On the Skin in the Dark Races of Mankind. 



[July 



and the Negro furnish extreme instances in this inquiry ; since in the 

 one the colouring matter is in small quantity or of light shade, whereas 

 the other has it so abundantly that in him we speak of the pigmentum 

 nigrvm. Between these extremes exist many curious varieties, in whom 

 the functions of the colouring matter are well worthy of consideration, 

 but we have data to reason only with regard to the European or W lite, 

 and the Negro. Indeed, in many of the coloured races, the existence of 

 something analogous to the dark pigment is only inferred, altiiough the 

 occurrence of Albinoes in all races should induce us to believe the 

 presence of a pigment universal. vSo that what is said of the colo u-ing 

 matter in the Negro may be extended to all varieties of colour, reasoning 

 by analogy. 



It is scarcely possible to regard the dark colouring matter otherwise 

 than as a provision for, in some way, enabling those who possess it in 

 abundance to withstand the heat of the climate they in'iabit. Accor- 

 dingly, there are facts which prove such individuals to be more capable 

 of withstanding the heat of torrid regions than acclimatized Europeans, 

 or other whites born there. There are also facts to connect this power 

 of withstanding excessive heat with the development of the dark 

 colouring matter. Thus, Albinoes of Guinea, differing from both 

 Europeans and their countrymen in this, that they totally want the 

 colouring matter, according to many authors, are even less capable of 

 resisting the heat of their native country than European strangers ; in- 

 deed their skins are said to crack and blister on exposure to the sun's 

 rays. And I am informed by Mr. Granidge of Barbadoes, that he has 

 observed the same fact in that island. 



Now, when we reflect that the European cannot be without some 

 colouring matter between the true skin and cuticlf^, since he must differ 

 in this respect from the Albino, it seems as if a relation were established 

 between the development of the pigment, and probably of the rete 

 mucosum along with it, and the power of resisting the sun's heat in torrid 

 regions. 



It is clear that in this inquiry we should regard, not merely the phy- 

 sical properties of the organization we consider, nor its vital properties 

 only, but the action and reaction of the whole, and their effect on the 

 system of the individual. For want of a consideration of all circum- 

 stances, before the publication of Sir Everard Home's views, it was not 

 conceived how the tint, which, on analogy, should absorb more heat than 

 any other, could, in the hottest regions of the earth, confer any exemp- 

 tion on its possessor. And perhaps before this paper is concluded, it 



