Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-02-27
The Eneet. Of Eating soras-,leat

There is Professor IN Berlin who has been an
eater of horse-fesh for the last ten years. Two
months auo he woke up his wife in the middle Of
the NIGHT by neighing loudly. The wife expressed
her surprise. and the surprise made the Professor
lauph but such laugh, it was a decided horse
lauGh that elected response from all the horses
on a neiobboring cabstand In the afternoon, his
wife had the greatest difficulty in getting him past
seed shop. where quantity of oats in the win
dow was spread out for sale. Soon afterwards
his hair (which is Of rich auburn) began to grow
10 tremendous length, and to assume more and
more the shape Of name. His face, too, became
covered with hair, and he gave great amueement
TO the little boys Of Berlin by appearing one day
in the streets with pair of binders.
! Various other changes gradually came over him.
He would start as if frightened at the crack of a
whip-lhe scream of railway whistle would set
! him off oalloping al full speed-whlst the sound
of trumpet would make him prick up his ears
and distend his noStrs in most equine manner.
Ii was noticed also haf his ears Of laie had grown
considerably longer, pointing upwards to some
/! height above his head. One night he was missed,
hd after Considerable starch he was found stretch
ed at fall length upon the straw in the stablesC
When his poor wife approached him. he began
rearing and plunging in such violent manner
that it was only by putting on the kicking straps
that he could be kept in the least still. Other
curious symptoms soon declared themselves. lie
cuuld not be induced to keep on his boots and as
it was found very uncomfortable to allow him tG
| run about the drawing room baretooted, be was
removed. and permitted to indulge IL his ecentri
cities only out Of the house. He would spend
whole afternoons in the different stable yards; his
fayorite associates were ostl rs and omnibus. con
ductors his favore haunts the offices of The
eil,rarens and the most fashionable beer houses
Nothing pleased him so much as to sleep in
stall.
After while his feet began to harden. and il
was observed that hard substance, not unlike g
horses hoof, was forming over them. The same
pecularity became soon observable on his hands
| From this time forth he refused to walk upright
and one frosty morning he was found on all four'
outside farrier's shop, stretching out one OF his
feet as if he were anxious TO be shod. Since tina
period he has been put under the care Of veter
anary surgeon. who gives but faint hopes of his
recovery ellis face" Che observes in Memul
written on the suhject,) ''is growing longer every
month. The nose has fallen to a straight line
with the forehead-the nostrils have expanded tc
AN inordinate size, and the mouth has stretched
itself to nearly three times it former width. There
is but little doubt that in time all traces OF thi
human face divine will be obliterated, and tha
the melancholy patient will be walking about
pitiable object with yeritabe hOrse's head on hl'
shoulders! At present his only delight is having
Bit put into his mouth"
Whether the transformation will proceed fur
ther, it is impossible to say. One fact. however
is pretty certain-for all the most learned Phlloso
nbare oF RerIin re unanimous upon the point
that this singular absorption of the man in the an
imal is entirely owing to the practice, perseveret
in for SO many years, Of eating nothing but horse
flesh. The Professor has been hippophage Il
that extent, that he has all but become hors
himself! The phenomena has created the great
est sensation in all the equestrian circles of thu
Prussian capital. Horse flesh. in consequence
has fallen full SO per cs1t.--PunclPs Berlin Cor