Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/805

 INTRODUCTION JO SOCIOLOGY 785

same time by a new internal equilibration and an application of the laws of general equilibrium as over against the environment. In fact, we maintain an upright position on the earth as a result of an equilibration with the atmospheric environment and the laws of gravity. The human species can be considered as unique because of common anatomical and psychical characters which exist among its numerous varieties, and because of fertile crossings between the most extreme races, and, as distinct from other organic beings, by special characters which differentiate it in a considerable manner. All the variations of structure of the human species are, in reality, narrowly limited. They are them- selves the result of internal and external equilibrations, that is to say, of special adaptations of which certain ones are of social origin, i. The weight of the human body. The variations of the weight of the body are determined by four special conditions : the physical environment, race, temperament, and food. Obesity is everywhere exceptional. In all races and in all environments it depends chiefly upon the hygienic conditions, upon inactivity, and upon excessive or gross and insufficient food. The yellow, white, and black races do not deviate from the average of the human species, except under particular influences. The Arab, gaunt in the desert, becomes corpulent in cities, especially among the idle and parasitic classes. The average weight of the human adult body seems to vary from sixty-six to forty-two kilograms, depending upon the populations.

TABLE OF VARIATIONS IN THE WEIGHT OF THE HUMAN BODY.

300 Belgians (Quetelet) - - 66.2 kg.

12,740 Bavarians (Bernstein) - - 65.5

400 French, light infantry (Bernard) 64.9

617 English (A. L. Thompson) - - 64.8

150 New Zealanders 63.9

34 Nicobarese (Novarra) - - 62.8

278 Magyars (Bernstein) - 60.7

24 Slavs - - 59-2

356 Roumanians - 5^-4

50 Hindoos, superior caste (Shortt) - - 53.2

60 natives of Caucasus - 50.0

5 Hindoos, inferior caste - 48.7

50 Nilghars, inferior tribes - 44-6

39 individuals, inferior tribes of Coromandel 42.7