MICROSCOPIC INSPECTION OF PORK FOR EXPORT. 
In 1881 our pork was prohibited entrance into Germany, France, 
and the principal countries of the continent of Europe, on the ground 
that it was intested by trichinze and was injurious to human health. 
Although it could not be shown that our pork had caused disease, 
and notwithstanding the most vigorous protests by the American Gov- 
ernment, the trade was crushed and destroyed. The year before the 
prohibition went into effect we sold to France 70,000,000 pounds and to 
Germany 43,000,000 pounds. 
For ten years our pork was shut out of nearly every market of con- 
tinental Europe, when, in 1891, the Bureau began the microscopic 1n- 
spection and certification of pork destined for the markets of the pro- 
hibiting countries. This action led to the removal of the prohibitions, 
but the restoration of the trade was a slow and difficult process, Our 
brands of meat were no longer familiar to the people of those countries, 
commercial connections had been severed, and requirements as to cuts 
and cures had materially changed. It was like introducing an article 
into a country for the first time. Moreover, the prohibition had en- 
gendered suspicion of our products, while the agitation had established 
prejudice and antipathy. There were vexatious and burdensome re- 
strictions by both the general and municipal governments, with ill-con- 
cealed hostility and every form of annoyance on the part of many 
officials. 
Notwithstanding such adverse conditions, the trade with these 
countries was gradually regained, as is seen from the following table, 
which gives the quantity of pork, microscopically inspected, that has 
been sold each year in prohibiting countries since the inspection began: 
Shipments of Pork Microscopically Inspected, Fiscal Years, 1892-1900. 
Fiscal Year. Pounds. 
Bis tat Bre Seah rvree aces wea earl x aie center eae FRIE ered eeT ie etl 38,152,874 
ISOS rhcasnasae ates ogerierd 1a Ate ae Gael ore cah Rare oe eel Saeued seats ..| 20,677,410 
IS ORS Meet Aye era antennae ae San aiers Bae ee ae 35,437,937 
Ss Ga Cur eanincs AU ee en Rae aac See Bete ea ete 45,094,598 
SOG Raa AR: ite Pete ORR aC, Me am ola 22,900,880 
SISO Cee ean ety 7c rere rR re Go nC RAIS Seuss Ss ai 43.512; 355) 
BO Bern cc-tud ate! me eueay eee ston a eater nese leiies Ppalanes Pitas er mmo ee 120,271,059 
DUS OR SP ceemeatty open Pate kara retary, pas A Oa TEC anny Ritu 2 T|| 108,928,195 
OOO ye ee ere etek A Ra ea ee ae: ......| 55,809,626 
The difficulties encountered 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 microscopes and apparatus used in the German 
inspection were considered too clumsy and not adapted to accurate and 
rapid work. An American type of microscope was, therefore, selected, 
YZ 
