THE FAMINE COMMISSION. AM0N3- the many subjects of importance bearing on the and relief of famines, which have been laid down
prevention for the
consideration
resolution
recently
of
issued
the
by
Famine
Commission
the Government of
in the
India, none question of
is of greater interest and consequence than the If the policy of Government in the face of actual
food.
famine is to keep
as
many of its
subjects
alive
as
possible,
and
starving population becomes thus a positive feeding function and duty of the State, the question regarding the most efficient and economical method of doing so becomes if the
of
a
question of the hour. When starving mosses of human beings have to be kept alive, all questions regarding irrigation, importation of grain, starvation tests, &c, &c., sink into insignificance in comparison with the vital and pressing question as to how the largest number of persons can be prevented the
at the least expense. And tins question turns essentially on the sufficiency and suitability of diat scales. On this subject there has been a very considerable difference of opinion. Administrative officers anil professional experts have maintained and defended divergent opinions regarding the amount and kind of food necessary to hold body and soul together. The real proof of the sufficiency of any diet scale is experience, but it has been found difficult in practice to apply this test, because the elements of peculation and mal-administration have profoundly affected the premises from which
from dying
conclusions
questions
were
are
Theoretical considerations in food
sought.
of considerable value and
have been drawn from
a
very
large
strength, area
because
they
of experience and
experiment; but when the issue and distribution of food supplied on principles of previous experience are affected by
-June 1. 1878.]
FAMINE STATISTICS.
doubts of this sort, if. is vain
feeding
as
evidence of the
be accept the apparent effects of poses, may
to
propriety
The Government resolution very
or
] 63 as
well
kept
locked up
in
a
cupboard,
as
thrust
man's stomach.
When a person has sunk into the interior of otherwise of the scales. " into the condition that, he cannot assimilate food, starvation" a
properly
lays down the
that food scales must vary according to the con- has already done its worst. " " starvaMedical science recognizes two distinct forms of uition of those for whom they are intended. The particular " are tion ; the one in which food and drink absolutely withheld, conditions specified are age, sex, work and degree of previous in quality or starvation. " Tlie main question," it is said, " which has been the other in which the daily food is insufficient much contested, is, what amount of food of what kind quantity for the nurture and repair of the tissues, and for the maintenance of the strength and temperature of the body. will suffice to sustain natives of India in a condition fit The acute form of starvation is very rapidly destructive of life. for the Libour likely to be exacted on relief works, assuming Fortunately it is but seldom seen or heard of. But the chrothat they come to the works before their ordinary strength is nic or slow form of starvation is just as fatal in the end and reduced by insufficient food. The closely connected question more common than the acute as to the variety, and it is this quantity ot food required to sustain life in those who infinitely form of privation that is at the present time causing, directly are unfit for labour and receive in relief poor gratuitous or indirectly, the great excess of mortality in the famine area houses, should also be investigated." The two questions here and in other districts where the poor cannot procure enough propounded are in short (1) What is s sufficient diet scale for a of food. I have endeavoured to state the facts in regard to this healthy working mnn, woman or child ? and (2) What is a matter on former occasions, but from the famine literature of woman or child? for a human pro; er diet
principle
sci>le being?man, Unfined by infirmity of some sort for labour? and there is still thir
the series.
i, which is necessary to complete proper diet for a human being?man, labouring under tne disease of starvation ? a
What is
(3)
woman
child?
or
The first
a
question
should be solved by careful inquiry regarding the food of the
labouring
classes in different parts of this country, investigated light of established physiological principles.
and studied in the
For this purpose general evidence is necessary, but it mus& be handled and checked by an expert. The two last questions
question of medical treatment, and can men considering them in view of the only by diseases and conditions disqualifying for labour. We observe that the list of names composing the Commission does not include a medical member. Liberty is given, however, to the Commission to employ the services of a specially qualified officer to make particular enquiries. The food question is assuredly one that cannot De properly handled by lay men, more particularly as regards the infirm and starving, and the necessity of securing the aid of a competent expert will, we doubt not, commend itself to the Commission^ Starvation to the lay mind seems a very simple matter, and its relief and cure a mere question of supplying food ; but the treatment of the starved involves delicate medical questions of resolve themselves into
medical
be solved
WhiLh the lay mind is incompetent tion of this statement a
letter addressed
to
we
to
extract the
take account.
In illustra-
following paragraphs from by Surgeon-Major
the Madras Government
It. Cornish on the 5th of September last, every sentence of which is most profoundly true :? ?
"The ravages of cholera and small-pox, great as they are, are insignificant as compared with the diseased conditions induced scanty and bad food, in a word by chronic starvation. Solely
by Government in its fullest
applied One
to
will observe that I sense,
it.
I have often been
did not die of
use
the word "starvation"
and not with the restricted
"
starvation
"
gravely
meaning
so
often
assured that such
because he
was
an
able to swallow
but every physiologist knows that the human body may starved" of every essential necessary to its vitality in spite Of the ability to convey food into the stomach. If the delicate
food, be
"
complicated organs concerned in the digestion and assimilation of food have been thrown out of gear by a long course of the victuals, for all practical purfrom and
?Wasting
under-feeding,
the
period, I gather that a great many officials and others still the term "starvation" in its restricted meaning, as ap" plicable to what I designate the " acute variety of privation." use
prevention for the
consideration
resolution
recently
of
issued
the
by
Famine
Commission
the Government of
in the
India, none question of
is of greater interest and consequence than the If the policy of Government in the face of actual
food.
famine is to keep
as
many of its
subjects
alive
as
possible,
and
starving population becomes thus a positive feeding function and duty of the State, the question regarding the most efficient and economical method of doing so becomes if the
of
a
question of the hour. When starving mosses of human beings have to be kept alive, all questions regarding irrigation, importation of grain, starvation tests, &c, &c., sink into insignificance in comparison with the vital and pressing question as to how the largest number of persons can be prevented the
at the least expense. And tins question turns essentially on the sufficiency and suitability of diat scales. On this subject there has been a very considerable difference of opinion. Administrative officers anil professional experts have maintained and defended divergent opinions regarding the amount and kind of food necessary to hold body and soul together. The real proof of the sufficiency of any diet scale is experience, but it has been found difficult in practice to apply this test, because the elements of peculation and mal-administration have profoundly affected the premises from which
from dying
conclusions
questions
were
are
Theoretical considerations in food
sought.
of considerable value and
have been drawn from
a
very
large
strength, area
because
they
of experience and
experiment; but when the issue and distribution of food supplied on principles of previous experience are affected by
-June 1. 1878.]
FAMINE STATISTICS.
doubts of this sort, if. is vain
feeding
as
evidence of the
be accept the apparent effects of poses, may
to
propriety
The Government resolution very
or
] 63 as
well
kept
locked up
in
a
cupboard,
as
thrust
man's stomach.
When a person has sunk into the interior of otherwise of the scales. " into the condition that, he cannot assimilate food, starvation" a
properly
lays down the
that food scales must vary according to the con- has already done its worst. " " starvaMedical science recognizes two distinct forms of uition of those for whom they are intended. The particular " are tion ; the one in which food and drink absolutely withheld, conditions specified are age, sex, work and degree of previous in quality or starvation. " Tlie main question," it is said, " which has been the other in which the daily food is insufficient much contested, is, what amount of food of what kind quantity for the nurture and repair of the tissues, and for the maintenance of the strength and temperature of the body. will suffice to sustain natives of India in a condition fit The acute form of starvation is very rapidly destructive of life. for the Libour likely to be exacted on relief works, assuming Fortunately it is but seldom seen or heard of. But the chrothat they come to the works before their ordinary strength is nic or slow form of starvation is just as fatal in the end and reduced by insufficient food. The closely connected question more common than the acute as to the variety, and it is this quantity ot food required to sustain life in those who infinitely form of privation that is at the present time causing, directly are unfit for labour and receive in relief poor gratuitous or indirectly, the great excess of mortality in the famine area houses, should also be investigated." The two questions here and in other districts where the poor cannot procure enough propounded are in short (1) What is s sufficient diet scale for a of food. I have endeavoured to state the facts in regard to this healthy working mnn, woman or child ? and (2) What is a matter on former occasions, but from the famine literature of woman or child? for a human pro; er diet
principle
sci>le being?man, Unfined by infirmity of some sort for labour? and there is still thir
the series.
i, which is necessary to complete proper diet for a human being?man, labouring under tne disease of starvation ? a
What is
(3)
woman
child?
or
The first
a
question
should be solved by careful inquiry regarding the food of the
labouring
classes in different parts of this country, investigated light of established physiological principles.
and studied in the
For this purpose general evidence is necessary, but it mus& be handled and checked by an expert. The two last questions
question of medical treatment, and can men considering them in view of the only by diseases and conditions disqualifying for labour. We observe that the list of names composing the Commission does not include a medical member. Liberty is given, however, to the Commission to employ the services of a specially qualified officer to make particular enquiries. The food question is assuredly one that cannot De properly handled by lay men, more particularly as regards the infirm and starving, and the necessity of securing the aid of a competent expert will, we doubt not, commend itself to the Commission^ Starvation to the lay mind seems a very simple matter, and its relief and cure a mere question of supplying food ; but the treatment of the starved involves delicate medical questions of resolve themselves into
medical
be solved
WhiLh the lay mind is incompetent tion of this statement a
letter addressed
to
we
to
extract the
take account.
In illustra-
following paragraphs from by Surgeon-Major
the Madras Government
It. Cornish on the 5th of September last, every sentence of which is most profoundly true :? ?
"The ravages of cholera and small-pox, great as they are, are insignificant as compared with the diseased conditions induced scanty and bad food, in a word by chronic starvation. Solely
by Government in its fullest
applied One
to
will observe that I sense,
it.
I have often been
did not die of
use
the word "starvation"
and not with the restricted
"
starvation
"
gravely
meaning
so
often
assured that such
because he
was
an
able to swallow
but every physiologist knows that the human body may starved" of every essential necessary to its vitality in spite Of the ability to convey food into the stomach. If the delicate
food, be
"
complicated organs concerned in the digestion and assimilation of food have been thrown out of gear by a long course of the victuals, for all practical purfrom and
?Wasting
under-feeding,
the
period, I gather that a great many officials and others still the term "starvation" in its restricted meaning, as ap" plicable to what I designate the " acute variety of privation." use
