410 Scientific Intelligence.^ Anthropology. 
luvial strata, at the water of Carmel. The details of this inte- 
resting discovery will be inserted in next number of Journal. 
ANTHROPOLOGY. 
14. Frequency of Goitres^ especially hi Women, in the l iver 
district of the Paraiba . — Among the inhabitants of this place, 
in the river district of the Paraiba, we observed an endemic 
swelling of the glands of the neck, in such a high degree as 
is perhaps nowhere to be found in Europe. Frequently the 
whole neck is covered with the great swelling, which gives a hor- 
rid appearance to these people, who are for the most part mulat- 
toes, and have, independent of this, no very agreeable features. 
But, in this country, they seem to regard this swelling rather 
as a particular beauty than as a deformity ; for we often saw the 
women adorn this enormous goitre with gold or silver ornaments, 
and, as it were, displaying it, while they sat before their house- 
doors with a tobacco-pipe in their hand, or a reel to wind cotton. 
We have annexed a drawing of one of these women in her na- 
tional costume. Negroes, mulattoes, descendents of whites and 
Indians {Mamelitcos), which form the greater part of its popula- 
tion, are peculiarly subject to this disorder ; among the whites 
the women have it more commonly than the men. The causes of 
this deformity seem to be quite the same here as in other countries. 
For it does not occur in the high, colder, and airy mountainous 
districts, but in the low valley of the Paraiba, which is often 
covered with thick fogs. The reason of this is, that the direc- 
tion of the two chains of mountains from south to north, does 
not allow a free issue to the exhalations and vapours : the'same 
mists which, during the day, rise from the river and the neigh- 
bouring marshes, which are partly covered with thick woods, 
fall again into the valleys at night ; the warmth is at the same 
time considerable, and the water of the river, which is often very 
muddy, impure, and lukewarm, must supply the place of spring- 
water. Their habitations, too, are uncleanly, damp, and windy. 
The raw dour of maize, which is here more frequently used 
than that of mandiocca, and is, though more nourishing, more 
difficult of digestion, and eating much pork, may likewise con- 
tribute to the development of this disease. Perhaps excess in 
sexual enjoyments may be considered as one cause of the goitre. 
