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to heighten that disgusting coarseness which so many
other causes concur to create.
I have now briefly examined the effects of climate,
of various modes of living, and states of society
upon the complexion, and figure of the human spe-
cies.--And in this examination we have seen that
the pliant nature of man is susceptible of many
changes from the action of the minutest causes:and
the action of these causes habitually repeated through
a sufficient period of time, can create, at length, the
most conspicuous distinctions among people origin-
ally the same. The effect proceeds, increasing from
one generation to another, till it arrives at that point
where the constitution can yield no farther to the 
power of the operating cause. Here it assumes a
permanent form, which constitutes the character of
the climate, or the nation.
It is frequently asked on this subject, why, unless 
there be an original difference in the species of men,
are not the natives of all climates born, at least, with
the same figure and complexion? To such enqui-
ries it is sufficient to answer, that it is for the same
reason, whatever that may be, that other resemblan-
ces of parents are communicated to children. Ex-
perience demonstrates that figure, stature, complex-

[[center margin]] 205

ion,features,diseases and even powers of the mind
may become hereditary. To those who find no dif-
ficulty in acknowledging that these properties may be 
communicated to offspring according to the estab-
lished laws of nature, the transmission of the climat-
ical or national differences among men, of which we 
have treated, can contain nothing which ought to
appear supernatural, or incredible.- If it be enquir-
ed, why, then a sun burnt face, or a wounded
limb, is not, by the same laws, if they exist, trans-
mitted to posterity? we may justly reply, that these 
are only partial accidents which produce no change 
on the interior structure and temperament of the con-
stitution. It is the constitution which is conveyed
by birth. And when any change becomes incorpo-
rated, into the system, so as, in any considerable 
degree, to affect its organization, or the state of its
secretions, it then becomes communicable to off-
spring along with all other constitutional properties?
I proceed, now , to consider the exceptions exist-
ing in different regions of the globe which seem to 
stand in opposition to the principles maintained in 
this essay. 
I begin with recalling an observation which I have
formerly made, that these exceptions are neither so


 

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