Note 228 — Chapter II · : ADAM SMITH (continued 2)

Wealth of Nations, Book II, chap. 2; Cannan, vol. i, p. 307. He continues: “The obligation of building party walls in order to prevent the communication of fire, is a violation of natural liberty, exactly of the same kind with the regulations of the banking trade which are here proposed.” This passage proves that Smith was in favour of public regulations which would further the material security of the citizens. Elsewhere he shows his partiality for adopting hygienic precautions against the spread of contagious diseases (Book V, chap. 1, part iii; vol. ii, p. 272).