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external air.* Different shares of the dark colours, therefore, till we arrive at the deepest black, will be found in the human complexion, in proportion to the predominancy of bile in the constitution, as well as of heat in the climate.

On the immediate causes of colour in the human species I shall state a few obvious facts. We may not be perfectly acquainted with the internal process of nature in the production of these phenomena, yet their existence may be sufficient to convince the philosophic observer that climate is the principal agent in creating that variety of complexion which distinguishes mankind in the different regions of the globe.

1. The rays of the sun, when suffered to act immediately on the human skin, tend to produce a dark colour, although there should be no uncommon redundancy of bile in the constitution.

2. On the other hand, redundancy of bile imparts a dark hue to the complexion† in persons who have

[[footnote]]* Take bile from any animal, and expose it but for a short time to the influence of the sun and air, and it becomes black.[[/footnote]]

[[footnote]]† There is a great agreement, and sympathy, says Blumenbach, between the liver, the laboratory of bile in the human[[/footnote]]

not, in any uncommon degree, been exposed to the direct action of the sun. Accordingly, we frequently see those who have been long affected in different degrees by an excess of this secretion, contract a hue resembling that of various dark coloured nations.*

continued [[footnote]]constitution, and the common integuments of the body, or the skin; and both are to be considered as being among the principal means provided by nature for purifying the mass of the blood.
"Manifestus officinae bilis cum integumentis communibus " consensus. Utraque quippe organa, hepar nempe et cutis, " ad maxime principalia, et invicem consentientia sanguineae " massae purgatoria referenda." De gen. hum. degen. &c. 44. p. 126[[/footnote]]

[[footnote]]* Dr. Strack, in his observations concerning intermittent fevers, speaking of jaundice arising from this cause, says, "I have seen the skin, after such a jaundice, remain of an olive colour, like that of the Asiatics, and even be imparted to children. One I have seen become nearly as black as an East-Indian: and another the whole skin of whose body became as dark as if he had been the offspring of an Indian father, and European mother, while the palms of the hands, and soles of the feet remained white like those of the indians." Book iii.ch.2. I may add to these examples of Dr. Strack that of a gentleman of the town of Newark in the state of New-Jersey, whose complexion has, for more than twenty years, been as dark as that of an aboriginal American. This colour was induced at first in consequence of disease; but though he has, for a long time, enjoyed his health, the colour still remains. "I would

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