PRUSSIAN FEDERATION OF SOCIETIES FOR THE INSURANCE OF CATTLE 3q- 



tering to the total sum of indemnities are sometimes so great that they 

 cannot be explained only by the varying quality of the meat sold: they are 

 due to the diversity of the causes leading to the animal's death but they 

 give rise to a certain doubt as to the skill with which some societies conduct 

 commercial transactions. 



It is true that some districts have still to submit to the knacker's 

 exclusive right to the carcase for which, as a rule, he pays a very small 

 indemnity or none at all. The federation however does all it can to stimulate 

 the societies to obtain the maximum profits from slaughtered animals, 

 in order thus to reduce total losses to the strict minimum. 



Costs of Veterinary Attendance : 



These amounted in 1915 to 569.50 marks or o.io per cent, of the round 

 sum insured. 



In comparison with 1914, in which 700.78 marks or 0.18 per cent, was 

 spent under this head, they had certainly diminished ; but tliis should not 

 lead to the conclusion that most veterinary surgeons in discharging their 

 duties observed the precepts of general interest which are at the basis of 

 the activit}' of the insurance societies. The diminution is to be ascribed 

 to the fact that veterinary surgeons were summoned less frequently, for 

 the good reason that they were not to be found evers'where where the}' were 

 wanted. 



Conditions resultant on the war — the generally inferior quality of 

 live stock — j^roduced a conviction that in regard to the question of risks the 

 introduction of a compulsory veterinary examination is absolutely necessary. 

 Unfortunate!}' this measure would in many cases be a dead letter, for in 

 numerous if not in all districts no veterinary' surgeon is available, so that 

 insurance which provided for the compulsory examination would be im- 

 practicable. Where a veterinar}' surgeon is to be had his services would 

 involve the societies in a large additional expense. It was necessary there- 

 fore to give up the project of making the compulsory examination general,, 

 merely exhorting the societies to exercise the greatest caution when there 

 was question of their accepting new animals for insurance. 



Costs of Administration : 



Like the costs of veterinary attendance those of administration form 

 a part of the expenses which, if losses keep within their normal limit of 

 70 per cent., ought to be covered by receipts; and they should naturally, in 

 the interest of the societies, be kept as low as possible. Their total sum — 

 88.83 iiiarks or 0.02 per cent, of the w'hole insured value — shows a decrease 

 as compared with 1914 when such percentage was 0.05. This item of the 

 societies' expenditure will in the future be perceptibly increased: for hith- 

 erto the societies have not had to send representatives to large meetings, 

 pa3'ing their travelling expenses ; and they will have gradually to increase 

 their stock of printed matter, with which the federation initialh' provided 



