Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-01

nOuSt udl IT'S OWu dSdlu'
-
a Neglected source OF Food.
Ages ago when our iorefathers were wor-
shippers Of Odin and the rest Of the dead
divinites of Northern Europe, horse flesh
was accounted delicacy fit for the gods.
When a warrior died, the "funeral baked
meats" were carved from his slain charg-
er and in all religious celebrations the
horse figured, as the bullock did in the sac
rificial feasls of other nations. Thus horse
flesh and paganism were found to be in
separab!e when the Germanic and Scandi-
navian tribes were christianized by royal
proclamation. The new made christian
could not begin dinner at which his fa-
vorite meat appeared without relapsing TO
his ancestral religion and going through
the entire round Of pagan rites with which
horse flesh had been so long associated. AS
natural consequence, horse flesh became
not only Synonymous with paganism but
one of its dCfenses-we should have said
bulwarks If the sound had permitted.
Again,t 1t the bulls of the church were
hurled, and its use prohibited under pain
VI tltIlldl htuludllOus N1IduudlINg dS tLElS-
tianity gained ascendency, the obnoxious
meat passed out OF use, and in process OF
time it came 10 he regarded b; Europeans
as "long pig was by the christianized de-
scendants Of man eating Fiji islanders,
with an adherence as intense as the orig
lna liking had been.
Subsequent generations have Inherited
the prejudice and forget its origin. To this
day the multitude stand ready "to cry un-
clean" tae moment horse flesh is mem
toned as an article OF food, though it would
puzzle them 10 give one substantial reason
for 50 regarding il.
The truth is that no meat can be cleaner.
The horse is one Of the incest OF feeders,
and az choice in his drinking as in his diet;
and, as has been abundantly proved by the
experience OF modern Europe, where horse
flesh has lately become AN important ele-
mcnt in the food supply, the meat which
we reject is At once wholesome, nutritious,
aud nearly If no. quite rs savory as beef
As we are no longer in danger Of relapsing
into paEtnism with the taste of it, the only
sanitary reason, moral or otherwise, for
avoiding il is done away with.
There remains the economical reason for
its disuse arising from the fact that good
horses are worth more for other purposes
But the time comes when the best of horses
ceases to he profitable for service. What
then?
Occasionalya favorite animal is provid-
ed for in his Old age and allowed to end his
days ir all the comfort that Nature will
permit. The majority, however, areturned
over TO he tender mercies of the cruel to
be used MP, more or less speedily, in rough
and III foquited labor. To guard their IA
vorites from this unhappy end, 1t is be-
coming common practice among consId-
crate people TO shoot their horses when no
longer ii. for the carriage, though they may
| still be far from worn out. or the nine
million horses IL the United States, a mill
| ion might be disposed of in that way ev-
cry year, to make room for younger and
more serviceable animals. In other words,
our f'od supply might be augmented by
something like a thousand million pounds
Of good meat annually. We throw II away
for prejudice
That this prejudice will be overcome in
| time, we have not the slightest doubt. The
tendency of our civilization is 10 multiply
| food consumers while lessening the rela-
| tive number Of producers. AS natural
consequence we must be more and more
careful TO avoid unnecessary waste. Every
| available source of wholesome food mus
be Lusbanded, and this among them. I'm.
fortunately those who would be most di.
recty benefited by the addition of horse
flesh to our meats are just those whose
prejudice against it is most intense. Here
as in Europe, 1t must first gain place en-
the tables of the well-tO-do.
Perhaps as simple plan asany for effect
ing this would be the following: We have
noticed the growing custom of shooting
horses when their term of profitable ser
vice has come to an end by age or accident
Inatead of burying the carclsses or giving
them to the renderer TO be converted int,
soap grease and fertilizers, the flesh nigh
be properly dressed and distributed amonI
those who, from curiosity or conviction o
its wholesomeness, might desire to give i
a trial. II pains were taken to announce
this intention beforehand, and to prove L
Intending eaters that the horses were il
good condition aud free from disease, Their
would be little difficulty, we imagine, II
disposing of the ehOicer cuts. All that 1
required is beginning, and this cours
would ensure 1t with the least amount o
trouble and cost.
Who will make the Experiment and re
port the result ?-lScientlfc American.