HEALTH AND CREDIT 105 



Perhaps during the early part of the campaign 

 some displeased landlord, who has been forced to put 

 his house in order, may cavil at the expenditure, 

 hoping to undermine the cause. It is best to ignore 

 such busybodies ; but if he is powerful, and an answer 

 is pressed for, it is ready to hand. The question of 

 public health is one of finance. What is the value of 

 a human life to the community ? Thirty years ago, 

 in the old slave market at Zanzibar, it was possible 

 to buy a negro woman-slave for twenty pounds. Her 

 purchase, from capital, would save her master from 

 paying her regular wages of about l per month, but 

 her food cost him something. In Egypt to-day a 

 native labourer can command 2 per month, or 24 

 per year. Every one of these labourers contributes 

 towards the welfare of the State by paying taxes, 

 either direct or indirect, by working so that the taxed 

 imports and exports are swelled, and by contributing 

 to the progress of the communities of the towns and 

 villages. It is by the size and industries of these 

 towns that the stability and progress of the State are 

 judged. The credit which a State can command 

 varies directly with the amount of work done in it ; 

 that is, it is dependent on its industrial output. But 

 this industrial output varies with the number of 

 inhabitants, and their ability to work ; and their 

 numbers and ability to work vary directly with their 

 health. This is a platitude of political economy, but 

 it is one that appears to be seldom realised. The 

 question therefore is answered : The value of a 

 human life varies directly with health ; the same may 



