1908.] 



Insurance of Live Stock. 



35 



for his trouble, but usually only his out-of-pocket expenses are 

 paid, and this is also the case with valuers and other officers. 



One objection to the small area covered by the society is 

 that in the event of great mortality, such as an epidemic of 

 contagious disease, it may get into difficulties, and many of 

 them do not undertake to pay compensation in such cases. 

 The objections connected with the limited sphere of operation 

 could be removed by re-insurance, but this is rarely done. 



Various provisions are made to prevent fraud, and no com- 

 pensation is paid if the death of the animal is attributable to 

 neglect ; most insurance funds also require the participants 

 to insure all their cattle above a certain age, except cattle 

 fattened for slaughter. Only healthy cattle are insured, 

 and many societies oblige the members to consult a veterinary 

 surgeon in case of sickness among the cattle and to give notice 

 to the management. Veterinary aid is not often furnished free, 

 though some associations refund part of the cost. Many asso- 

 ciations have the right to take over an insured animal and 

 slaughter it. Further, various provisions are found with respect 

 to the payment of compensation for certain diseases. Thus 

 it frequently happens that no compensation is paid for cows 

 which die of a second or third attack of milk-fever, or for 

 animals which die within a certain time after castration, or 

 for animals which die of anthrax in a meadow where a case of 

 this disease has occurred shortly before. 



The societies for different classes of animals are usually 

 distinct. 



Horse Insurance. — Most of the local funds only insure horses 

 of one year and upwards, and there is frequently a maximum 

 and minimum value. They are examined and valued for this 

 purpose by a committee, which once a year or oftener visits 

 all the members for the purpose of insuring new horses and re- 

 estimating the value of animals already insured. In some 

 districts the members are bound to bring the animals together 

 at a certain place on specified dates. Sometimes the examina- 

 tion is carried out by a paid expert. 



Horses are usually valued at their full market value, and from 

 70 to 90 per cent, of this is paid as compensation, though some 

 societies only pay 50 and some as much as 95 per cent. In 

 some associations, especially in the provinces of Friesland and 



c 2 



