Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-10
HAsKIN TELLS OF SECRET OF RACIAL TRAITS

WASHINGTON, Nov. THAT the
color and texture of a mans skin
and hair, the form OF his features.
his stature, the proportion of his
Iimss-all of his physical character
istics which mark him as belonging
to a certain race-and many of the
straits of mind and character which
are associated with those physical
characteristics are regulated by half
a dozen small glands in he body. is
one of the most revolutionary OF the
recent conclusions of science.
This much of the evidence for new
theory is set forth by Arthur Keith,
a British scientist. in an article re-
Gently published by the Smithsonian
Institution in this country.
This new idea is revolutionary in
more ways than one. 1t upsets n
old Darwinian theory of sexual Sc
lection as the mechanism of race
variation, IS completely as that, for
the scientist, upset the Biblical no
tions on the subject. 1t shows that
what we call racial characteristics
are by no means confined to persons
of the race with which they are as
ISOLATED. In persons of the pure
Nordic strain there may be MongoI-
ian or negro physical characteristics
and they are apt to be evidence or
mental emotional traits such as are
associated with those races. In a
word, here is a new key to the mys-
terry of human character. A flat
nose, a projecting lower jaw. an ex-
ceptional length of leg or size OF
hand has a new significance for the
careful observer, when he NOW
that these physical characteristics
show the degree of development OF
certain of the controlling glands, n
that these glands have a definite ef-
feet on mind as well as on body.
Control of Growth.
Lastly, it seems certain that IN the
course of time knowledge OF the
ductless glands will give man a con-
troll over his own characteristics
such as he never had before. IL
would be a rash prediction, or the
kind which every conservative scien-
fist deplores, to say that race char-
acteristics will be controlled, that a
baby born black may be turned
white. and a stocky, ~flat-footed Tar
tar child be made to grow tall ana
have the salient features OF a NOT
die; but something of the KIND Is
certainly in some degree posslp!e,
Scientists have already produced
marked changes IN physical oeVeI-
opment by administering eA-
tract of some OF these glands. Thus
a disease known as Myxoedema mas
been found to be due wholly to de-
iciency of the thyroid gland. In IL
the skin becomes dry and often yel-
Iowish and the hair tends TO fail out,
showing plainly that the thyroid con-
trolls in some degree the develop
ment of hair and skin, which are
race characteristics. The admins
tration of thyroid extract is a cure
for this disease.
Degree of control which man may
attain over his own characteristics
bv his knowledge of the ductless
glands is limited chiefly by the fac
for of receptivity. Thus it has been
ouite definitely proved that the
prarenal glands control pigmenta-
lion. And IL been found that
the action of any of the duetless
glands may generally be regulated
by administering an extract or those
glands taken from the bodies OF ami
mails. Could then a black or yellow
child be made white by a treatment
with suprarenal extract ~ IN IN
fancy? Probably only experiment
would show. and very likely n
experiment would be dangerous; but
il il likely that the tissues of the
child would not be sufficiently recep-
tive of the added suprarenal SUBJ
stances 10 produce the desired ef-
feet.
Each of these ductless glands
J seems TO have two sets of activities
( in that they effect both the mme
date activities Of the body n lts
form of growth.
The Cause of Giants.
The pituitary gland which is slt-
mated at the base of the brain ana
is about the size Of a cherry is
known TO have control over the size
of the body. Disorders of 1t eause
the disease known as acromegaly'
which is marked especially by en-
largement of the hands n rect.
arrangements OF this gland are also
known to be the cause of all cases
of eiantism-that il. of men VINO
grow 10 be seven fee or more IN
height. An unusual development OF
the pituitary gland is thought to be
one Of the chief characteristics OF
the Caucasian or European race, as
distinguished from negro and Mon
gol racial types.
The intersitial glands are known
to control the development of the
body at puberty, and If they art in
any way disordsrsd. the deyelopmept