130 ON FAMINES. 



it can be best economized. Moreover, they should prevent 

 the employment of unwholesome food, and should take great 

 care that all other external circumstances should as far as 

 possible be so regulated that the pestilence attending upon 

 famine may be averted, and that fever, diarrhoea, sickness, 

 and excessive mortality, may be prevented. 



(507.) When we know not whether this disease be still 

 increasing, it would behove such a council to be stirring ; 

 to have weekly reports upon the progress of the insects 

 from different parts of the kingdom ; to do their best to cut 

 short the cause of the malady ; to apply new materials for 

 human food ; and to take care that such an economy of nu- 

 tritious material be enforced, that no man should suffer from 

 want of proper food. 



(508.) All these conditions might a properly educated 

 council of health fulfil ; and, until this be accomplished, 

 never will pestilence, famine, adulterated and damaged food 

 be prevented from exercising their deleterious agency upon 

 society. 



(509.) Next year will be a very anxious period, as we 

 are already using our old supplies of food. If, therefore, 

 the insect continue to increase, it will be desirable to have 

 reports from all. parts of the habitable globe, upon the quan- 

 tity of surplus food existing, that we may know at once 

 where to apply. 



(510.) It is absurd to suppose that it is the duty of Gov- 

 ernment to supply food, except under extraordinary circum- 

 stances. It is, moreover, impossible that Government can 

 keep down artificially the price of bread for any time, with- 

 out the most disastrous results. 



(511.) To Government we have no business to look for 

 our actual supplies of food, though the executive is clearly 



