Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14

been in the islands twenty thirty, forty, and
in some cases even fifty years, who are to-
day the picture of good health, active and
vigorous In their work. The same is true
in all parts of the tropical world. Adults
can live in good health there.
Children born III the tropics, if educated
In temperate ATTITUDES. can return to the
tropics and this can continue indefinitely
in the same families without deterioration.
This has been found true in India, Java.
the Sandwich Islands and in the West in
dies
1t has been assumed, therefore. that the
bracing climate OF the north lands has pro-
duced vigorous constitutions in the children
sent from the tropics. That this was of
some value will not be denied, but 1t is In
sisted that of greater value is the educatio
In the higher ideals Of the temperate lati-
tudes. In the tropics ideas of morality, of
sanitation, Of correct living are very crude.
A child born and reared in the midst Of
low ideals unconsciously absorbs them, and
assimilates readily with the population
around him. The Spanish idea that every
one born in a tropical colony is necessarily
"degenerate'' Is practically true, IL he Is
also reared among "degenerates." The GUS
tom which exists in these colonies of giving
each child born degenerate" native child
as companion and playfellow. only makes
more sure the outcome. Isolated families
exist In Cuba and Porto Rico, where high
ideals having been maintained and incul-
Gated In the children, we now find vigorous
descendants to the third and fourth genera
lions There are many such families in
Porto Rico, and the same is true in the
Sandwich Islands.
1t Is here maintained that it is the letting
go, little by little. the correct views Of llv-
ing, which causes the white race to de-
teriorate, and not the climate. The neces-
sites of life are fewer and easier to obtain
In hot countries than in cold ones; and this
makes 1t easy for men to become indolent,
to lose ambition and to sink to low level
OF living and thinking.
The tropics. contrary to the usual view,
are healthful regions. Malaria exists in hot
countries, but so it does in temperate ones.
Typhoid fever and contagious diseases are
worse than in cold chimes Smallpox Is
regarded a mild disease. Scarlet fever
is said not to exist at all. Where filth Is
allowed to accumulate disease prevails but
In lands well drained and free from decay
ing matter and filth. there is, under ordi-
nary care, no more to be feared from dis
ease than in the most favored portions of
the earth At present In hot countries the
people pay little attention to sanitation. AS
a rule. they are unuttcrably dirty. They
live in their own filth, and seem to enjoy
it The germs of disease from one body are
promptly taken into another before they
have time to die, or are cultivated in filth
deposits until the whole community is af-
fected.
People Themselves to Blame.
The tropics in themselves are no more
and no less healthful than temperate re-
g ms. But the people in cold countries
hive some respect for sanitation, while
II )se In hot countries have very little or no
respect for decent cleanliness. This is the
whole explanation of this matter People
who have the latrine in the kitchen and I'M
cleaned for century. who sleep in rooms
into which a breath of fresh air cannot en-
ter: who seldom wash their bodies; who
use rum and tobacco instead of food: who
permit children to cohabit promiscuously,
can scarcely hope to escape disease, IL any
prevails in their neighborhood. Such con-
ditions are the rule with the masses in hot
countries.
Those who become "accIimatized' will be
able TO live in hot countries. II Is doubt
full whether not there is any actual con-
dition known as matiZation, al
though IL the term means becoming accus-
toned TO filth. and to certain germs which
term.
Instead of a bodily change the individual
gradually becomes educated to his new en-
vironment He learns what to eat and
drink. what to wear and where to Sleep
when and how much TO work, to come in
out OF the shower and TO change his wet
clothes. to avoid the midday sun and the
damp air of the night. When q man new
TO the tropics has learned these things, he
Is "acclimatized" Some learn them at
once: others are years in learning and
meanwhile suffer from sickness and distress
lew conditions must be met In every
country new to the pioneer. whether the
country Is In temperate or hot attitudes
In opening up new country to settlement.
Ii is the severe labors, the exposure. the
meager diet. the anxiety the general hard
conditions Of life, which undermine the
general system and make the body an al
most unresisting victim to the germs of ma
laria and other diseases. 1t Is not the CHM