TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE. ai 
tion was only incidentally turned to tuberculosis. It may, 
however, be worth while, at all events, to Be a few figures 
illustrating these statistics. 
Amount of tuberculosis as shown iy slaughter-house 
records: 
Bavaria. Berlin. Saxony. Leipzig. 
1897.2. .1.62% 1883. ...2.86% 1888.... 4.90% 1888....11.1% 
1888... .22..7% 1885... .2.10% 1890....15.7% 1889....14.9% 
1895.....5.% 1895...15.45% TSOS pene 27.48% 1890... .22.3% 
1891/2 ..20,.7% 
1895....33.3% 
The figures here given show certainly an extraordinary 
increase, and the last three years shows that the figures are 
still growing larger. Because of the reasons mentioned, sta- 
tistics from slaughter-houses are only of value when they come 
from the same place and have been continued in the same 
locality for a period of years. It is probably impossible to 
compare with any accuracy figures taken from different locali- 
ties and, moreover, even in the same locality, the figures are 
not comparable year after year unless the same inspector has 
been engaged in the duty ofinspection. The personal equation 
is so great, the desire of some inspectors to find every case of 
the disease, and of others to find as few as possible, so inter- 
feres with the value of the statistics that the comparison of 
different localities and of different years in the same locality 
is open to very serious question. The figures given above 
for Leipzig are the most valuable, since they have extended 
over many years under the same management. The results 
in successive years are, therefore, probably more properly to 
be compared with each other than in most cases. But even 
here the personal factor and the increased attention must enter 
into the statistics. But the increase from I1.I per cent. to 33.3 
per cent. in seven years is startling. It is impossible to believe 
that these uniform results can be explained except by an actual 
increase in the amount of the disease. After allowing all 
weight to the personal equation we cannot avoid the con- 
clusion that the statistics which are obtained from slaughter- 
houses and the absolutely uniform increase in the percentage 
of tuberculosis, as given by official reports, as well as the large 
amount of tuberculosis that is found yearly as the tuberculin 
test is extended, tell only too clearly that tuberculosis is on the 
increase in Europe. Most scientists are inclined to think that 
‘it is not only increasing, but increasing very rapidly. Certain 
S.—-3 
