72 



Insurance of Cattle in Germany. 



and the payment of compensation for loss on condemnation. 

 It must be remembered that abroad it is not the butcher, but 

 the farmer, who suffers the loss from the confiscation of a 

 carcase by the veterinary officer at the slaughter-house, as 

 payment is not made by the butcher until after the expert 

 examination has been made. 



These insurance societies are of various kinds. In Leipzig' 

 the management is in the hands of the municipality, in 

 Dresden of the Butchers' Union, and in Berlin of the cattle 

 dealers. A number of public insurance offices also, in addi- 

 tion to a general insurance of cattle, undertake insurance 

 against losses which m.a,y be sustained through the condem- 

 nation of cattle destined for slaughter. In the Grand Duchy 

 of Baden a lav/ was passed in i8go for the compulsory 

 insurance of cattle. 



The private societies do not exist for the purpose of 

 making a profit, but merely for covering the losses sustained 

 by members. Tuberculosis is by far the most important 

 disease involving the question of compensation for cattle 

 condemned, and it is mainl}^, therefore, to protect themselves 

 against seizures for this disease that farmers and cattle 

 dealers have started these societies. 



In Leipzig all cattle and pigs brought to market for 

 slaughter must be insured, provided that the veterinary 

 surgeon sees no reason in his examination of them prior to 

 slaughter for excluding any. The premiums charged are, 

 for oxen and bulls, ys. 6d.; cows and heifers, 9s. 6d.; pigs, is. 

 Compensation is given up to the full purchase price of the 

 animal in addition to the slaughter-house charges. 



These insurance societies have definite rules of manage- 

 ment. In Dresden, for instance, the society is directed by a 

 committee of management, drawn from selected members of 

 the Butchers' Union, and the principal cattle dealers. 

 Every member must insure all his cattle (unless found 

 diseased or suspected prior to slaughter) ; and any person, 

 not a member, desiring to insure his beasts, can do so upon 

 payment of twice the ordinary premium. This premium 

 varies from time to time, in accordance with the amount of 

 the claims to be paid. In 1895 the premiums were, for oxen, 



