The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-10-08
From the Boston Bulletin.
FRENCH REFINEMENT.

One knows not what degree of credence
TO attach to the accounts given in some late
foreign journals, relative to the expedients
employed by certain class of people in and
9Dout Paris, who manage to obtain liveli-
hood, and even to acquire fortunes, by pur-
suing the trade of killing, dssecting, and
vending for purposes of food, horses, dogs,
cats, rats, and other animals not familiar to
the rude tastes of our carnivofous gour-
mands on this side the Atlantic. According
to these statements, this is one of the most
regular vocatlons mag inable-there are nu-
merous butchers, who drive a mon
strous business in the environs of Paris. es-
pecially at Montfaucon; and they make ey-
cry particle of the carcases of their victims
produce its quota of profit: the skins are
sold at 10 francs each, the long hair at lOd.
per pound, the tendons and hoofs Cd. the oil
ID, the bones centimes, and the flesh
"when fresh and wholesome, Sd. per pound
There Is particular set OF dealers in dead
carrleR viz. the chefon6ers, OF ragmen, who
steal and assasslnate stray ours and grimal-
klns, strip off their skins for the furriers, sell
the paws to the glue makers, the oil to vari-
GUS artists, and dress the flesh very hand
somely, so as to resemble that of hares or
rabbits, and dispose thereof to the reStaurq-
teurs! An inquiry into these subjects was
not long since instituted by order of govern
ment-aKI the Report of the Committee is
perhaps one of the most curious documents
that has appeared within the last hundred
years. Respecting the traffic IN the bodies
of cas- and dogs. the Report furnishes the
following facts concerning certain horse
butchery which they visited:
Near to the slaughter-house of Dussaus-
sois, is large room set apart for the fay
ing and cutting up of the dogs and cats
either found dead in the streets of Paris, or
stolen and killed by the chefonierS
GA man and woman are employed the
whole year round in faying and cutting up
these animals. The skins of the dogs are
hung up to dry those of the cats are care
| fully stuffed with straw; the fat of both is
sedulously collected and melted down, and
the paws sold to the glue makers. We new
( er entered this establishment without find
ing great number of dogs and cats fayed,
and embowelled, and trussed with the great
est care, and quite ready for the spit or the
stewing pan. Whether they are eaten by
the slaughter-house men their numbers
would seem to preclude the idea or sold to
other persons, we are not able to learn. AS
the heads and tails are always cut off, these
cats and dogs, thus prepared, present very
tempting appearance, and it would not be a
little difficult to distinguish them from other
animals of the same size, which are admitted
to our tables. In the room or howell, of al
most all the cheGoniers Of Paris, is little
gallows, to which are hung up the unfortu-
nate dogs which they steal or find wander.
ing about the streets. They have also dogs
trained to bring to land the dead dogs ant
cats floating in the Seine"
| The trade in rats is carried on to an al
most equal extent. These vermin infest the
slaughter-houses in such numbers, that a
the establishment above mentioned no les
than 10000 were killed in the course of |
single month. Their skins are purchased
by the furriers, at the rate of 3 francs L
sous per 100. To return, however, to TIN
dead-horse trade. The commissioners VIII
were appointed to investigate the subJec
with view to the public health, and VIII
were engaged in the inquiry during perio'
, of seven months, in their Report thus invlt
, the reader to exercise his fancy:
"Imagne to yourself what may be the Ell
feet of the putrid decomposition OF heaps 9
, flesh and ntestines that have been expose
during weeks and months to the air and tn
!. suns rays--to this join the emanations OF
4 soil which has been for years imbibing bloc
: and other animal liquids, mingled with tn