408 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences j Arts, and Letters. 



The same tendency is evident here. That there shor.ld be an 

 increase in drunkenness in cities still possessing samlags might 

 not seem unnatural, but that the cities that did away with sam- 

 lags and began a regime of prohibition should show such a 

 marked increase seems indeed surprising. How can it be ac- 

 counted for ? Xone of these cities have had legalized sales of 

 spirituous drinks by private individuals. They have only had 

 legitimate dealers in the milder drinks. An explanation of the 

 increasing drunkenness, therefore, resolves itself into a discus- 

 sion of the following three possibilities. Has drunkenness been 

 due (1) to smuggling in the stronger drinks, (2) to a purchase 

 of drinks from the neighboring samlags, or (3) to an increased 

 traffic in the milder drinks ? 



In regard to the first possibility the following tables, de- 

 signed to show the number of cases of arrests for illegitimate 

 liquor selling during each of the more recent years will answer. 



In the cities where samlags were discontinued from Janu- 

 ary 1, 1896: 



Number of arrests. 



