Cannibalism in Europe

Abstract

considerable difference in the appearance of the people in different districts. At Calne, gray eyes and clark hair are prevalent; about Wilton, the ]3eo]3le are fair, and have the Teutonic form of head; at Southampton, the type is fairer than among the majority of the people of Wiltshire, and on approaching the focus of the Saxon invasion, Teutonic resemblances become stronger. Mr. Blake had asked whether the differences he hacl observed had any relation to the differences that might have existed between the Belgse and the Dobuni. He was not prepared to say he had found such differ? ences. Both north ancl south of the Belgic frontier there was a mingling of dark and fair. Mr. Rowland Williams had said of the people of S.W. Wiltshire, that neither Saxons nor Celts, but preCeltic he thought them; and if there were any relies of the Belgse, they woulcl be founcl there. With respect to the characteristics of the people of Milford Haven, he hacl seen few of them: the Teutonic type did occur there, and the natives all testified to the distinction of race : but judging from the family names he clicl not think the prior Welsh population had been completely expelled. As to the prevalence of diseases among people of distinct complexions, he had paid some attention to that subject, but he considered it was one that belonged rather to medical science than to anthropology. In an article in the British Medical Journal, two years ago, he had expressed the opinion that consumption is not more prevalent among fair-haired persons than among those with black hair. Those who were least liable to that disease he thought were persons whose hair is of an intermediate colour. Cancer generally attacks persons with black hair, while light haired individuals are most liable to skin diseases. With regard to the term melancholic tenrperament, he meant by it to express something answering to the description given of it by the ancients, and it was generally accompanied with black or clark hair ancl a dark complexion, hypochonclriacs being often found in that class. Sanguine people (who are often red-hairecl), on the contrary, often go on suffering, even to the point of death, without making any complaint; and it is difficult to make them comprehend that they are in danger. Whether vfair-hairecl people aclapt themselves to change of climate better than those who have dark hair, is a question of extreme importance and should be carefully investigated. He must confess he had heard the opinions that had been expressed on the subject with some surprise; for the impression on his mind was that most of the recent African travellers have dark complexions.