Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-05-19
CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
CHANCE TO STUDY EFFECTS ON
INCOMING IMMIGRANTS.
Subject of Vast Importance to the
Medical Profession - Dis
appearance of National
Types.

The medical Importance OF antnro-
pology is just beginning to be appre-
ciated, not only from the theoretical
side, but also practically in treat
ment, says American Medicine. 1t
is less than a generation ago that text
books implied or even taught that the
differences between the various races
of men were meaningless freaks of ma
ture. The great awakening of biol
ogy-of itself recent affair-has
done much to popularize the law that
every characteristic has an offensive
or defensive use for which it was de-
veloped and is rarely useless and still
less rarely harmful. 1t is, therefore,
in order to apply the law to man and
find out what racial differences have
developed; why some are tall, others
short; some stocky, others fraii; some
black, others blonde; some with kinky
hair, others with straight.
The solution of these problems can
not be expected in the near future, but
enough has been done to warrant the
assertion that some knowledge of
physical anthropology is an important
part of a physicians education, for
it is at least of practical Importance.
To the psychologist it is essential, for
of tissues and organs which vary so
greatly from race to race. 1t is no
longer an academic study left to some
old man who has nothing better to
do.
If it is learned why a certain char
acteristics has developed in a certain
environment, it is known that new
immigrants not possessed of that
Of 1afn
tute or suffer in health. In recon-
mending changes of climate it might
be possible to select that one which
is appropriate for that patient. The
hygienic results would also be of vital
| Importance. In every sense, the new
study is so important that the time
| is not SO distant when it 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
climates upon European settlers are
vast unexplored field, which upon
| investigation may yield knowledge of
great Importance. Only here and
there and at infrequent intervals have
there been any attempts to explain
| the disappearance of certain American
families Occasionally there is study
of a small group of emigrants and
! their children, but comparatively little
| is known of the ultimate result of
residence in this continent 1t must
be remembered that over so per cent,
and perhaps so per cent, of Americans
have lived here only two generations,
| and that there is scarcely time to tell
what is happening to them.
In similar migrations to climates
like those in the United States it is
known that certain types always dis
| appear. There is good evidence thai
identical phenomena are taking place
here, though so slowly that they have
| been unnOticed. If it is true, it should
| be Investigated and a careful record
made of the types of families which
! fade and the diseases or conditions
which were the ultimate causes OF
their disappearance. The subject is
one which deserves far more atten-
ton than has been given to it. Like
the study of anthropology, so long
neglected, it might reveal facts OF
practical Importance to hygiene and
| therapeutics.
| The personal "reminiscences of fam
lily physicians have thus a practical
value, and such academic investiga-
tons may mean the preservation OF
families otherwise doomed to extinc-
ton. We rarely or never realize that
we are far south of the latitude in
which our ancestors lived, and by well
known natural laws we are being in
iured in some way.