The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-04
WHY is THE NEGRo's SKIN BLACK
Interesting Discussion of "a Recon-
dite Subject.
From the Medical Record.


In Pediatrics about year ago a vehe-
ment discussion was raised by the publica-
ton in the editorial columns of that pa
per of the statement made on ,ne author
ity of a French physician that negro ba-
bies when born were of pinkish hue; in
gact, differed little, if at ALL in color from
infants born of white parents. This ex-
preston of opinion was strongly rebutted
by physicians in the South, who with
unanimiiy declared that they had never
seen a baby, born of black parents white
at birth. The Lancet, in Great Brian,
took the matter up, as well as many med
ical journals on this side, and although
their correspondents were all of one mind
as to the negro progeny when born not
being white, yet, curious to say, there
was a considerable divergence of views
with regard to the exact tint, The truth
is. that all newly born negro infants ore
not of quite the same color, but vary to
a certain extent However, the asser-
ton of the French physicians that they
are of a delicate pinkish hue was totally
disproved
Authropologists and men of science have
for long wresued with the problem with
respect to the cause of the color of the
black man. Men of religion hold that it is
owing to the curse of his father falling
upon the descendants of Ham Some think
thai the negro IS a distinct race. whose
color has been the same since the world
was first peopled, while again others cen
tend Ghat the human people were all orig
inally Of the same color, and that the
change has been effected by the influence
of the climate of the countries in which
they have lived.
The question is dealt with in an inter
esting manner by a writer in a Journal
named the Family Doctor who says:
Though children in tropical climates may
be born apparently white, of Tarenis
whom the solar heat has darkered in hue,
and though we have not the means of as
certaining that white nations exp SD in
tropical climates for ages do become
darker, still, in conformity with the we'll
known law of the transmission of hetedi-
tary mental qualities, parents so black
ened can communicate a slight. though i'm
perceptible, tinge to their Offspring, who
will thus enter upon existence with
larger share of black than their parents,
and if equally exposed themselves, will
convey more to the next genera ton.
Thus the black tribes of Africa may have
become so through a long succession of
ages while the more recently peopled conn
tries Oh tIODcdi Amer ltd tAIliDll lilS pro-
cess in a comparatively early stage It
is needless to present, in opposite to this
theory. that no change has been observable
since the discovery of America, for the
ages required for the process must have
been analogous 10 those required for ge
oogoical phenomena, and are not to be
squared with our usual ideas of time. All
the variations in the external appearance
of man. however, cannot be referred to the
i,,a Of tho solar heat thOngb h fDt q
mentioning other causes. we may point out
another clear instance of its action. In the
cases of the aborigines of Hndus an, who
are somewhat Drowned in complexion, the
action of the climate is clearly Observable,
which Is proved by the circumstance of
the female inhabitants of the harem, de-
rived from the same stock being general
" fair in hue This is unquestonably in
consequence of their secluded life, which
prevents that exposure of person which
their relations of the other sex necessarily
undergo. And, indeed. were color the only
point to be considered, the doctrine of the
action of climate might be held to be the
best means of accounting for the VIDE va
rieties Of the human species. Whatever
NAV be the immediate or remote causes
Of the dark complexion of the negro, phil
osonhical inquiry has shown US that to
him il is a provision of nature, mercy and
bfnevolence. The black co,or of natives of
tropical regions may justly, then, be con-
sidered as wise experience provided by
Omnipotence for cooling the fever of the
blood under the influence of the searching
SUM-
This theory is at least as plausible as
anv other, but taking the fact into consid-
Grafton that the problem as to why the
negro is black Is impossible of definite So
luton, a discussion of the subject is, al
though interesting, perhaps somewhat USE
less.