INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

84 FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESlILTS
been a matter of estimate, and not of record, as
it should be; but I can see no reason why this
state of affairs should continue. In fact, the
measures taken to obtain statistics of the
present famine will set an exaruple in this
matter.
I will here enter briefly into this question of
nx>rtality. The accuracy of the official report
of the famine deaths up to the present date
(July 1874) has been questioned by some who
believe that the actual starvation deaths are
much in excess of those registered. Their
argument seems to be that the ordinary mortality
is being very much exceeded during
this year of faFine; and that all such deaths
(amounting, I suppose, to thousands, but I
have seen no definite statement made on the
subject), notwithstanding that the immediate
cause may be dysentery, fever, &c., are nevertheless
famine deaths, because they have
been induced by want of food. No doubt
this is in one sense true; but it is absurd to
suppose that Government is to be held responsible
for every such death. If it can be
proved that these deaths occurred notwith-