The Washington times., 1914-05-22
LIFE IN TROPICS BAD
j: j: FOR WHITE PEOPLE
Sir HayeIock Charles Says Pro-
Ionged Residence in India
Causes Deterioration.

That prolonged residence of white peo-
pie ir the tropics will produce both
physical and mental deterioration, is the
opinion expressed by Sir HaVelock
Charles. in discussing neurasthenia
among northern peoples who 20 to In
da in the Journal Of the American
Medical Association. He makes some
interesting observations on the failure
~ such peoples to survive without aG-
mixture with the native races or with
out conforming to the necessities i'm
posed by the climate.
Conforming to the climate" lie says,
will probably mean the preservation of
. percentage OF strains defective in the
primitive qualities, and with a liability
10 nervous weakness The light-Colored
peoEles,' he points out, are perfectly
1tteG TO cold climates. but when they
migrate to hot attitudes they are dam
aged by the conditions 10 which they
are exposed. II is said that fresh waves
Of immigration are constantly neCessary
for the preservation OF the purity and
PreComina anCe OF the white race in a
tropical climate.
"LEIess these occur. whether the in
vaders arc white or yellow, in the cross
ing Of light and dark races the foreign
ers have invariably assumed the chaIac-
teristics OF the nat YES. The climate
seems to limit, TO define. and mold the
foreign characteristics in accord with
The alterations brought about by the
food and the soil. AS instances OF this
are cited the disappearance Of the
TuraniaIt invaders Of India. the failure
OF any foreign race to establish Itself
in Egypt. Mexico. or Peru. -he Chi
nes- in Calcutta and Singapore only
maintain their original qualities Ly i'm
porting continuous streams OF fresh
Diooa.
1t is True" Sir Hsyclock says, re-
'erring more or less particularly 10 tine
10
1fOne. aud power enough Insanit2ry
.onditlOns may be TeCufed and tropical
5Ises ses may be be nished but the heat.
he sunlight and the climatic conditions
'annOt be changed either b. the power
~ money or the power OF knowledge
People evolved in the environment of
horthern latitUdes cannot retain their
Hhsrs cteristlCs in q tropical or sub
tFopicAl climate any more than southern
wheat can 6e made to grow and give
Us increase IN a highland soil. Men OF
sound constitution can and do live in
he tropics. but women and children
tSre far less well and the results in the
'rird and fourth generations would be
deplora bic.
Sir Hayelock says that the white man
Is not plastic enough to take up the
conditions Of the CoiorCd man and yet
remain while, and without intermar-
Tlage his descendants will die out.
His incapacity is based on bio,osic
fsctors-skin and bone. his blood, his
brain and cranisl capacity. his nutritive
processes. Prolonged residence in d
high temperature, with little range. and
high relative humidity. with excess OF
light will produce both physical and
mental deterioration, quite apart from
The influence of any parasitic disease -
S:g Hsyelock does not believe the ex-
re'iment at Panama. with unlimited
none! and Unlimile ed power, proves any
thing with reference TO the possibilities
There. n ha
most advanced coast towns Panama
methods could not be applied, while IN
the interior il would be both economic
ally and politically impossible.