The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-06-14

iSNht III tiiO lOC luSl NdTltJleS. Some tribes
of Africans have long hair, and other red
colored people, as in the Duke of York's
Island, lave it woolly. There are two in
stances in this vicinity in Lucas county, where
no trace of African blood can be detected
some facts would seem to indicate that climate
and mode of life might have considerable in
fluence on the hair. DR.. Smith observes. that
the hair of Europeans settled in America,
changes visibly TO that of the American abo-
rgines, that in the third or fourth race.
straight, lank hair is almost universal. In
Angora, small district of Asia Minor, the
sheep, goats, cats and rabbits, have been
mentioned in former lecture, as showing tie
effects of climate on animals, as well as that of
domestication, especially that of the sheep,
and wild pig.
In the sheep and goat it is very striking, a
person acquainted with the covering of the
goat in European climates, would hardly be J.
lieve it possible, the material from which the
precious shawls Of cashmere are manufactur-
cd, could be produced from the same animal.
Color of the ivis. 1t has long been observ-
ed that the color of the eyes depends on that
of the skin and hair, and that these organs
are blue or light in fair, and dark in black
persons. Hence, newly born children, in
these climates, have generally blush eyes
and light hair; and the color of both changes
together at subsequent period in the lnd-
Niduais who are of a dark complexion. And
IN the same way, when the hair loses its color
in old age, the pigment of the eye becomes
lighter. This connection is still more strong
ly eynced in spotted animals, and is particu
larly clear in the rabbit. The native and
wild greay hind has brown iris, the black
and white variety has it spotted, and the per-
fectly white has it red, from the entire alb
sence of coloring matter.
There are three principle vari ties of color
in the iris, first blue, secondly, grey, and
thirdy brown tending to black. These may
all occur in different individuals of the same
race, and again they are sometimes confined
10 the different tribes of the same country
within the boundaries of a few degree Lin
naeus describes the Golhander in Sweden
with white hair and greyish blue eyes, the
Finlander, with red hair and brown iris, and
the Lapa"der with black hair and iris. The
ancient Germans were distinguished by their
blue eyes, as well as red or rather yellow hair,
(carpa8ie OcuH pertilea cOmaes) Red hair and
blue eyes. (Tacitus,)
The iris of the negro is the most intensely
black, so that in living individuals it can be
distinguished from the pupil only by very
close inspection. The Abino is considered
the most singular variety of the human race
We have alreready limited of the white rabbit
and terreta being characterized by the snowy
color of their hair and redness of the eve as
originating from a morbid disposition trans
mitted by way OF generation, dvested in
course Of time of all character of disease, and
established into permanent variety. The
same affection occurs in the human race, but
in few and scattered instances, and persons
thus distinguished are named Albinos. There
are two peculiar circumstances in these in
dividuals. The skin has an unnatural white
ness approaching to leprosy, and the hair has
the same character.
The latter has not the snowy whiteness Of
old age, nor the elegant light yellow or fax
en- appearance of the fair haired in our climates
or that which is frequently seen in young
girls, but is rather to be compared to the ap-
pearance of cream neither is the color of the
skin like that of the European, but approach
ing to that of milk or of white horse. The
eye is deprived of its coloring matter, and
hence the ivis is OF pale rose color, and the
pupil intensely red, in consequence of the
blood contained in the numerous blood ves-
sells, which almost make up entirely, the sub
stance of those parts. Thus thereis deficien-
cy of coloring, as well as that of the skin and
hair, as of the eye. These affections of the
skin and eye are always concomitant. There
) is generally weakness of the latter organ, in
consequence of which strong light cannot
be borne. Hence they are described in ava
and the lsthmus of Darien as going about
chiefly by night, when they see best. Thi.
! popularity always exists from birth, it never
, changes afterwards, and is sometimes heredi
tary,
1t was first discovered in the African, a:
, the great difference of color would render the
, variation more striking, and hence the indi
, viduals were termed Lucrehiopes, or whit
negroes. From their avoiding the light, tn,
( Dutch gave them the name coulemptuously
, of insects stunning the light, The Spaniard
e called them Albinos. So far, however, i
. this variety from being peculiar to Lhe negro