The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-08-06
Correspondence
SOME PArHOIOG1UAI DIFFERENCES.

III 14CC0gMs
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
The anatomical characteristics of
the negro appear at the instant to
be the main, if not the only distinct
i've differences between the white
and colored races. But when exam
ined into they assume a minor i'm
portance as a race characteristic.
1t is true the color, hair, and odor
are indelible marks that cannot be
mistaken for any other breed. The
effects of environment T de-
cided with regard to the African
than has ever been observed in the
other races. Like all denizens of
tropical countries, he is able to en-
dure heat to a remarkable degree,
but cannot become climatized to cold
regions so as to be an effective
worker, even after several genera
tions. In the Southern part of the
United States they are the best labor
ers in the world, but in the Northern
part are inefficient on account of the
cold.
Their emotional nature is wonder
fully strong. They are creatures of
impulse, easily moved to tears, to
laughter or to anger; often carried
away with religious enthusiasm and
superstition. In bondage they were
devotedly attached to their masters
family, jealous of their perogatives,
and proud as Lucifer of their social
standing, most cordially hating
''poor white trash" Music and
dancing was a prominent feature in
their scenes of festivity in slavery
times. How often 1 have gotten up
at midnight to make them go to bed,
that they might have rest to meet
the next days work!
On communion occasions at the
country churches vast crowds of
them would ~oongregate, dressed in
broad-cloth and silks, and such gal
lantry was displayed that would put
the present new issue to the blush.
They initiated their masters and
mistresses in dress and politeness
and through the week would vie each
other with who could do the moss
work in a day racing in the harvest
field was a delight, especially TO ok
Gel a white man. These were all
strong and healthy men and women.
During the war between the States
they were faithful to a wonderful
degree in taking care of their mas
ters' interests. 1 don't suppose a
parallel case has been observed in all
past history.
But with their freedom came IN
told evils to the race that their
former friends were powerless to
prevent.
Restraint, their life, long safe
guard, ceased when liberty was
thrust upon them. They failed TO
~differentiate liberty from license,
and fell an easy prey't to the decep-
lions of wicked white men. They
were encouraged to turn a deaf ear
TO the advice of their lifelong friends
and have suffered in many ways as
a consequence, especially in hygiene.
PATHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
SLAVERY n FREEDOM.
While in a state of slavery, dys-
pepsia was unknown among the ne
grOes and would have been consid-
cred impossible. Consumption was
so rare that some persons thought it
belonged exclusively to the white
race But now the death rate from
it far exceeds that of the whites.
1 have seen a family of eight all die
with it inside of two years. In an.
other family of sixteen children, the
father and fourteen of the children
died in rapid succession in less than
ten years. In the practice of every
physician these observations have
been made. A remarkably peculiar
ity I have noticed in these cases of
phthisis is that the lower part of the
lung is first attacked but little ex-
pectoration is observed, but an effu-
sion into the plural cavity. We re
member one case where the entire
right lung had been converted into
pus, filling the plural cavity two
thirds full. DIR. Paul Barringer,
now Chairman of the Faculty of the
University of Virginia, made the
post norton. These cases all go
down rapidly, none appear to re.
cover, or ever make temporary i'm
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