The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-19
INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE
Great Opportunity in America to
Study Effects on Immigrants.

Tho medical Importance of anthropology
Is Just beginning to be appreciated not
only from the theoretical side. but also
practically In treatment, says American
Medicine 1t is less than a generation
ago that textbooks implied or even taught
that the differences between the various
races or men were meaningless freaks OF
nature, The great awakening OF biology
or itself recent affair-has done much
TO popularize the law that every charaC-
teristic has an offensive or defensive use
Tor which II was developed and is rarely
useless and still less rarely harmful. 1t
is, therefore, In order to apply the law to
man and hnd out what racial differences
have developed, why some are tall, others
short; some stocky, others frail, some
black. others blond. some with kinky hair,
others with straight
The solution or these problems cannot
be expected in the near future, but
enough has been done TO warrant the as
sertion that some knowledge Of physical
anthropology Is an important part of a
physicians education. for II is at least
OF practical importance To the physi-
oloGist it is essential, for 1t throws q
flood or light upon the uses OF tissues
and organs which vary so greatly from
race to race. 1t Is no longer an academic
study left to some old men who have
nothing better to do.
IL 1T is learned why a certain charaC-
teristic has developed In a certain en-
vlronment, 1t is known that new immi-
grants not possessed OF that means Of
defense must adopt a substitute or suffer
in health, In recommending changes OF
climate. 1t might be possible TO select
that one which Is appropriate for that
patient The hyglenic results would also
be of vital Importance. In every sense,
the new study is so important that the
time Is not so distant, when il will be
not only part of a liberal education. but
an essential preliminary for the study Of
medicine The study OF man has too long
been neglected by the students of men
The effects of the different American
EurODean settlers
vast unexplored field, which upon inves-
tigation may yield knowledge Of great
infrequent intervals have there been any
attempts to explain the disappearance OF
certain American families, Occasionally
there is a study OF small group of immi-
grants and their children, but compara-
lively little is known Of the ultimate re-
suit Of residence in this continent. 1t
must be remembered that over 80 per cent
and perhaps 60 per cent of Americans
and that there is scarcely time TO tell
what is happening to them.
In similar migrations TO climates like
those in the United States II Is known
that certain types always disappeared.
There Is good evidence that identical
phenomena are taking place here, though
so closely that they have been unnotiCed.
II 1t is true, it should be Investigated,
and careful record made of the types
of families which fade out and the dis
eases or conditions which were the ulti-
mate causes OF their disappearance The
subject is one which deserves far more
attention than has been given to II. Like
the study of anthropology. so lonS neg
lected 1t might reveal facts of practical
importance to hygiene and therapeutics.
The personal "reminiscences of family
physicians have thus practical value.
and such academic Investigations may
mean the preservation OF families other
wise doomed to extinction. We rarely or
never realize that We are far south OF
the latitude i'm which our ancestors lived.
and by we'll known natural laws we are
being injured In some way