DUTY OF THE LEGISLATURE. 49 



fear, be as unproductive as that of the original. But will ?you 

 permit me, in form at least, to invoke the shade of our great 

 countryman might I not say townsman? Adam Smith. We 

 should not certainly expect the renowned economist to indite 

 a new "wealth of nations," from a modern stand-point, a 

 century after his great work was given to the world ; for what 

 he wrote in 1 776 appears to have been given for all time. But look- 

 ing back, and gathering up the lessons of the past, one can imagine 

 that he would, at least, add a prefatory note somewhat in these 

 words; that is, if I may be permitted to suggest words to so great 

 an oracle : There are two primary and fundamental considerations 

 upon which national stability and permanency rest. The first 

 regards the health of the people the other its education. Any 

 system of government, without full provision being made for 

 these, will be incomplete : and, in regard to the former, the best 

 guarantee of a nation's security will be wanting. Therefore, 

 above all things, let no government, in its administrative capacity, 

 be without its health department, presided over by a wise and 

 energetic Health Minister, whose supreme duty it shall be to create 

 and to vigilantly administer laws, the aim of which shall be to pro- 

 tect the health of every subject, and especially to surround that 

 of the dependent industrial population, with every possible safe- 

 guard. Then, addressing his own countrymen, might we not sup- 

 pose the philosopher, with increased emphasis, to add : A nation, 

 such as ours, of thirty-four millions, with a vast manufacturing in- 

 dustry, a most busy and flourishing commerce, an Indian Empire 

 to govern and maintain, colonies to attract the most vigorous and 

 enterprising of our people, great fortresses to man and defend, 

 cannot afford to waste the lives of its citizens, any more than those 

 whom it has chosen and trained to fight its battles. Are not 

 labour and capital the two pillars upon which a free common- 

 wealth rests ? Disease paralyses labour and wastes capital. It 

 ought then to be the primary object of an enlightened State to 

 prevent disease, preserve health, and prolong life ; and to main- 

 tain the whole people in the highest efficiency alike for the 

 labours of peace, or the struggles of war.* 



* For part of closing sentence vide " Public Health," passim, Dr Guy. 



