fever are transmitted from man to man by mosquitoes. While many 
other discoveries have been made during the investigations carried on 
by the Bureau, the two just mentioned, because they were so unexpected 
and differed so widely from accepted theories, have had a greater influ- 
ence on the progress of medical knowledge than any others. 
MEAT INSPECTION. 
The year 1891 marks the beginning of a second era in the Bureau of 
Animal Industry, because it was then that Congress enacted legislation 
establishing the Federal meat inspection service and the inspection and 
regulation of vessels carrying export cattle from the ports of the United 
States to foreign countries. The meat inspection act directs the Secre- 
tary of Agriculture to inspect, previous to their slaughter, all cattle, 
sheep, and swine, the carcasses of which are to be disposed of through 
the interstate or foreign trade, and authorizes him, in his discretion, to 
make a post-mortem inspection. This enormous undertaking, which 
was added to the many other duties of the Bureau, was designed to pro- 
tect our domestic consumers from the meat of diseased animals, and at 
the same time to enable the Government to certify to the wholesomeness 
of exported meats. It was specially provided that no beef should be 
allowed to go abroad unless it had been inspected, and was certified as 
free from disease. 
The magnitude of this work was probably not appreciated by Con- 
gress at the time the legislation was enacted, although the desirability 
of such an inspection is incontestable. Owing to the great extent of 
our territory and the enormous number of animals slaughtered, it was 
impossible to at once cover the whole country. It was necessary to in- 
struct inspectors and devise a system of administration with proper safe- 
guards. Beginning at a comparatively few abattoirs, the service has 
been gradually extended until it is now established in 45 cities and 
covers the product of 148 abattoirs. 
The growth of the meat inspection service is shown by the following 
table, which gives the number of animals inspected before slaughter 
from 1891 to 1900, and indicates the enormous number of animals that 
are annually slaughtered in the United States for the preparation of 
food products: 
alnimals Inspected for Abattotrs. Having [nspection, Fiscal Vears, 18g1-roov,. 
l 
Fiscal Year. ; Cattle. |Calves.| Sheep. Hogs. | Horses. | Total. 
| 
ee Se al - | | 
TQ91 nea nee adsl adeand teas SSS OU Ie porate aliases Nets | eee eae teca sea | 83,891 
A ou Cea a Reopen ek Saera|e selon O09!) 59.089 DOU OGll se ae aeesonlG es Pees 3,809,459 
SOS ie Ascsnstetesueer mace ea 3,922,174 | 92,947 870,512 | | 4,885,633 
TSH ve tee ee en 3,862,111] 96,331 | 1,020,764 | 7,964,850)........ | 12,944,056 
ISOS onan icon ween | 3,752,111 | 109,941 | 1,344,031 | 13,576,917|...... .| 18,783,000 
ASIG te er enn | 4,050,011 | 213,575 | 4.710.190 | 14,301,963). ee! 23,275,739 
SO 7 mene tees meee re 4,289,058 | 259,930 | 5,179,643 | 16,813,181].... ...] 26,541,812 
LOS ys oan mene 4,552,919 | 241,092 | 5,706,092 | 20,713,863)........ 31,213,966 
SOOM Aer en ys neers 4,654,842 | 245,859 | 5,718,464 | 23,783,576] 3,232 | 34,405,973 
SUSI geen ea tl ey eco em 5,027,998 | 308,542 | 6,170,172 | 23,328,102) 5,560 | 34,840,374 
| 
11 
