Instance variables can't be polymorphic?

[Zheng Li <zheng_li@users.sourceforge.net>]

Hi,

Here is an example:

----
# class c = object
   val iter = List.iter
end;;
class c : object val iter : ('a -> unit) -> 'a list -> unit end
----

Since iter is a instance variable, the type parameter 'a won't be 
required to parameterize the type of the class, perfect!

But it's still not polymorphic.

----
# let o = object
   inherit c
   method do_sth = iter print_int []; iter print_string []
end;;
Characters 69-81:
     method do_sth = iter print_int []; iter print_string []
                                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^
Error: This expression has type string -> unit but is here used with type
          int -> unit
----

Is that reasonable?  The inference of class c is done before the 
declaration of object o, and the type signature says it's polymorphic 
(not a weak one '_a).

Trying to declare the polymorphism explicitly as

--
val iter : 'a. ('a -> unit) -> 'a list -> unit = List.iter
-- 

won't work. This syntax is only allowed for methods.

Given that I really want to use polymorphic functions this way: as 
instance variable and accessible through inheritance, is there any 
workaround or suggestions ?

Thanks
--
Zheng