HOT AND COLD CLIMATES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 8

HOT AND COLD CLIMATES.

LONGEVITY STATISTICS. Because in tropical countries more decayed vegetable matter is found, and,- in consequence, more miasma, the idea has bccome popular that only vigorous health and long Mo aro hkoly m northern latitudes where frost, now and then asserts itself. Tho fact.that humanity matures much earlier in tropical climes seems to warrant the conclusion that it must necessarily perish much earlier. Dr. Lugi Sambon, of Home, attempts to put the popular impression to sleep by an claborato exhibition of statistics, which lie lias just gathered together. He does not contend that tho warmest climato is tho most suitable to a man, under tho conditions of modern civilisation, but ho remonstrates vigorously against tho idea that a cold and variable climato is the most conducivo to tho physical and intellectual improvement of tho human 'race. Whilo northern cljmatcs may produce stalwart frames, statistics show that they do not conduce to longevity. In proof of his position tho doctor cites the fact that tho avorago Arab outlives the average Esquimau by not loss than twenty-five years. Ho shows that tho people who livo alont* the unhealthy coasts of Central and South America survive tho inhabitants of tho higher and cooler altitudes of tho interior. He shows also that tho Hindus, who often reach puberty as early as nine years, livo to 'a surprising old age. Tho, inhabitants of tho southern countries of Europe are found to | live much longer than tlioso of tho more northern latitude.

To illustrate, in England in a population of 27,000,000 there are but 14G centenarians, 10 nnn ®P a ' n > a population of but 18,000,000, thero are 401 ceut-enarians. Tho probabilities aro that tho great mortality found in southern latitudes is found in tho cities, and is, therefore, not so much tho fault of the climate as of an indifference to sanitary laws.