1898.J 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



T5 



some restrictions by both the general and municipal 

 governments. 



Notwithstanding such adverse conditions, the trade 

 with these countries has continued to grow until now it 

 requires more meat than the bureau is able to inspect 

 with the available appropriation. The following table 

 shows the pork which has been microscopically inspected 

 and the quantity which has been sold in the prohibiting 

 countries since this inspection was inaugurated : 



Year. 



Pounds. 



1892 22,025,698 



1893 8,059,758 



1894 18,845,119 



1895 39,355,230 



1896 I 21,497,321 



1897 ' 42,570,572 



To countries | To countries 

 requiring not requiring 

 inspection. inspection. 



Pounds. 



16,127,176 



12,617,652 



16,592,818 



5,739,368 



1,403,559 



1,001,783 



Total. 



Pounds. 

 38,152,874 

 20,677,410 

 35,437,937 

 45,094,598 

 22,900,880 

 43,572,355 



The difficulties met with in the inauguration of this 

 system of inspection were very serious. There had been 

 no microscopic inspection on a large scale in America, 

 and we had neither the appliances nor trained inspectors. 

 The glass compressors for preparing the specimens of 

 meat and the microscopes used in the German inspection 

 were considered too clumsy and not adapted to accurate 

 or rapid work. An American type of microscope was, 

 therefore, selected. The stage was grooved so that an 

 examination of every part of the specimen was insured 

 and a special form of compressor was adopted which 

 greatly facilitated the work. 



The cost of microscopic inspection was estimated be- 

 fore the work was begun all the way from 15 to 50 cents 

 per carcass. The actual cost has been reduced to less 

 than 6 cents per carcass. The packers asserted that it 

 would be impossible to microscopically examine any con- 



