Comment on the Evidence for Rapidly Risingp−pTotal Cross Section from Cosmic-Ray Data

Cosmic-ray measurements used to deduce evidence for rising $p-p$ cross sections are reexamined for possible systematic effects not discussed previously. It is shown that these systematic effects are small for the data used, and that the analysis is on firm experimental basis. Recent direct measurements of $p-p$ cross section at ISR energies (1 to 2 TeV) are above the lower bound that was deduced from cosmic-ray data.