natives of North America from having been made slaves by the
Europeans. They are a narrow-shouldered race of people, and will rather
expire under the lash, than be made to labour. Some nations of Asia have
small hands, as may be seen by the handles of their scymetars; which with
their narrow shoulders shew, that they have not been accustomed to so great
labour with their hands and arms, as the European nations in agriculture,
and those on the coasts of Africa in swimming and rowing. Dr. Maningham, a
popular accoucheur in the beginning of this century, observes in his
aphorisms, that broad-shouldered men procreate broad-shouldered children.
Now as labour strengthens the muscles employed, and increases their bulk,
it would seem that a few generations of labour or of indolence may in this
respect change the form and temperament of the body.

On the contrary, those who are happily possessed of a great degree of
irritability, bear labour better than pain; and are strong, active, and
ingenious. But there is not properly a temperament of increased
irritability tending to disease, because an increased quantity of
irritative motions generally induces an increase of pleasure or pain, as in
intoxication, or inflammation; and then the new motions are the immediate
consequences of increased sensation, not of increased irritation; which
have hence been so perpetually confounded with each other.

II. _Temperament of Sensibility._

There is not properly a temperament, or predisposition to disease, from
decreased sensibility, since irritability and not sensibility is
immediately necessary to bodily health. Hence it is the excess of sensation
alone, as it is the defect of irritation, that most frequently produces
disease. This temperament of increased sensibility is known from the
increased activity of all those motions of the organs of sense and muscles,
which are exerted in consequence of pleasure or pain, as in the beginning
of drunkenness, and in inflammatory fever. Hence those of this constitution
are liable to inflammatory diseases, as hepatitis; and to that kind of
consumption which is hereditary, and commences with slight repeated
haemoptoe. They have high-coloured lips, frequently dark hair and dark eyes
with large pupils, and are in that case subject to gutta serena. They are
liable to enthusiasm, delirium, and reverie. In this last circumstance they
are liable to start at the clapping of a door; because the more intent any
on