The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-05-01
PecuIIas.ity 81 the Jevv,s,.

/ Scientific observers have noticed certain phys.
ical peculiarities in the structure of The Dody
among the Jews. According 70 the well-lno3n
anatomist Schultz, of St. Potersbuzgh, they dif.
fer from all the other races that inhabit the
Russian empire. A comparison has shown that
whereas the average height OF the other races
amounts to between 66. 10 and 6816 ms, that Of
the Jews is only AS. Again, while in general
the width Of the body, when the arms are fully
stretched out, exceeds its height by about eight
inches, the opposite il the case with the Jews,
whore the width often falls to one inch below
the height. In the negro races the trunk con.
stitutes 50 per cent. Of the height Of the whole
body, in other races "a per cent, in the Jews SO
per cent. Lastly, while ordinarily the pesheum
- about the middle Of the body, in the Jewish
race it occupies lower position, being about 8
per cent. beneath its place in other races. Some
interesting pathological observations have also
been made. 1t appears that the Jews suffer
comparatively rarely from diseases Of the re-
spiratory organs, and that they are, in remark.
able degree, capable of accommodating them.
| selves to vicissitudes of climate and tempera.
| ture. From certain diseases they enjoy almost
complete immunity. Among infantile disorders
Of this class, we reckon hydrocephalus and Group;
among those affecting all ages, typhus and the
pestilence. During the middle ages, their free.
dom from the epidemics which ravaged Europe
was attributed by the populace to incarnation,
or more frequently to their poisoning the wells
| from which the Gentiles drank. Accordingly,
1t often gave rise to the most terrible persecu.
tions.1 In our own days, also, it has been oh.
served that Jewish communities, however poor,
| crowded, and contravening our modern hygienic
rules, suffer comparatively very little from
| cholera and other epidemics. In our opinion
this is only partially accounted for BY their
careful selection of meats, both as to kind and
quality, by their laws concerning publication,
(which could only operate to very limited OK.
| tent or even by their general sobriety.
| The chief reason must be sought in their
physical conformation, or, taking higher view
| Of 1t, in the ultimate destiny Of the race to
which that conformation is subservient, and IN
| the blessing and watchful care of the God of
| their fathers, not withdrawn from them even in
their dispersion. On the other hand, there are
| disorders Of lighter kind, to which the Jews
seem peculiarly liable, such as cutaneous dis.
eases, hypochondraisis, hysterical and nervous
affections, and distinctions of the portal system
| Of late mania has become more common,
especially in certain localities, owing it is sup
posed, to frequent iutermarriages The last.
| but perhaps the most remarkable physical pecu-
liarity to which we shall call attention. is the
comparatively large ratio of increase, and the
longevity of the Jewish race. Assuming its
present numbers to amount, in round figures, to
close upon nine .millions their rate of increase
has indeed fallen far short Of what 1t had been
in Biblical, and even in post. Biblical times As
| standards Of comparison, we possess here three
data, Of which two at least are perfectly trust
worthy. We know that during the four cen.
turtles of their stay in Egypt, notwithstanding
oppression and persecution, their numbers in.
| creased from 20 to about 100000. This Is 9
very large ratio, even taking into account we'll
known climatic influences, and, above all, the
| fact that to these seventy individuals cousid.
cradle number of slaves and dependents must,
no doubt, be added. Our second datum is the
census taken by command Of David, from which
it appears that dnring the four centuries suc.
cceding the Exodus the nation had grown from
2,4OO,0OO to about five and halt millions
Bearing in mind the long unsettled state Of the
country, and the many wars, this appears very
satisfactory. especially as the census vas by no
means complete. "a 1'ttsf ss's aaa ,
The third notice to which rsfersncs may be
made is of much later date, being derived from
| the Itinerary Of Benjamin Of Tudela,. who, 10.
wards the close Of the twelfth century, Visited
his oountrymen. The numbers mentioned BY
him as inhabiting the mountains, having their
| own chiefs, and said to be descended from Dan,
Zebulon. end Naphtali, of whom Benismin OF
Tudela had heard from his co-rsligioaists in
Persia. Compared with such numbees, ne
present rate Of increase seems small, though Il
10 much larger than that Of the nations around
Thus, while, for example. IN Alsiers, not only
the European, but even the native population q
said to be decreasing, the Jews continue 10 allow
an excess of births over deaths, Again, Df.
Pressed states that in his own district the mum.
Der Of Jewish or Gentle births stands related ~
90 to 3d. Connected with this Il another 70.
marksble fact, brought out il the ecclesiastical
registers Of Prussia, from which it appears, that
whereas among Gentiles 143 children were still
born in 100000, that proportion among the Jews
amounted to only 80. The balance Of general
longevity is largely in favor Of the Jews. IN
Infancy the death-rate among the Gentiles IL
more than double that among the Jewa Among
adults, the largest proportion of deaths OCCURS
6:S per cent, among Jews Of from 20 70 "a, the
next largest death-rate among Gentiles at the
ages Of from Us to 70, the proportion being per
cent, while among Jews the percentage for old
age is much larger. These Comparisons might
be easily multiplied. The total result may b
expressed with Pressed, as follows:
!. There died Of Gentles or Jews.
The fourth part At yean II months At % years 3monshs
Inc half part AIS years month. At 50 years month
These computations are borne out by the 90.
cesiastical registers Of Prussia between the years
1923 and 1841. From these 1t appears that there
died on an average annually-ons in "a Gentiles,
ard only one in 40 Jews. Reached the age Of Is
among Gentiles, 445 per cent, among Jews.
30 per cent Reached the age Of 7O-among
Gentiles 10 per cent. among Jews 20 per cent
Lastly, the learned French physician, DR.. N.
Levy, has recently computed that the average
duration Of life among the Gentiles Il 90 yeaSs.
and among the Jews It Is 81 years-"On Certain
Pecultdrittes of NE ,IesetM RGcen in Epn<inv NM