No. 32.— 1886.] MEDICAL HISTORY OF CEYLON. 333 



taken in the health and well-being of the people, and for its 

 efforts to remove and mitigate evils or causes of disease and 

 mortality. 



To the Legislative Council we are indebted for the liberal 

 votes made from year to year for adding to the requirements 

 and comforts of our hospitals, and providing for the sanitary 

 condition of our prisons. That Government has as little to do 

 with charity as with religion, is little remembered by the 

 public of Ceylon. In England, hospitals and dispensaries 

 are supported by voluntary contributions, and large bequests 

 are made by the wealthy for their maintenance and efficiency; 

 whereas in this country, the duty as well as privilege of the 

 rich to provide for the poor is not recognised sufficiently. 

 Beneficence is not without reflex influence on the benefactor. 

 The good Samaritan, who gave pence to support his neigh- 

 bour, and poured oil into his wounds, " showed mercy on 

 him," and Shakespeare says of mercy: — 



* * "It is twice blessed. 



"It blesseth him that gives and him that takes." 



It would be well if more of our well-to-do citizens followed 



the noble example of Rajapaksa, the De Soysas, Joseph 



Fernando, and Harmanis Dias. These are the true benefactors 



of the people. 



The wise and judicious Ordinances which have been 

 enacted may also be viewed in a sanitary light. I need only 

 allude to the Ordinances on compulsory vaccination ; for 

 establishment of Municipalities and Local Boards of Health ; 

 restricting the use of opium and bhang ; regulating the sale 

 of poisons ; Medical Aid Ordinance for the planting districts ; 

 for administration of village communities ; regulating the sale 

 of intoxicating liquors ; registration of births, marriages, and 

 deaths ; quarantine ; irrigation ; contagious diseases ; and for 

 regulating pilgrimages ; nor must I omit to mention the 

 advantages we have derived from the appointment of com- 

 missions of inquiry on cholera, prison discipline, and on 

 irrigation. 



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