Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-11-04
EATING HORSE IN BERLIN.
A Horse Slaughter House--How the Dead
Horses are Utilized.

Horses are Utilized.
In Berlin, not far from the new Kings
gate, appears above a high fence bad
sign with the inscription: "Central
Horse Slaughter House." Two well
executed horses heads in wood, painted
brown, are placed at the sides of the
sign, as who should neigh "Step with
in, honored, yet much tormented
equines. Leave behind you all fear of
the whips of mankind" A massive
portal leads within to a large, roughly
paved court, on the left side of which,
in a separate building, is the Office of
the veterinary surgeon; and on the right
the dwelling of the proprietor and the
slaughter house.
Every horse which is to be slaughter
ed in Berlin must be brought here alive.
The animal is first examined by the
veterinarian, and only upon his express
ed Judgment can it be killed. From the
beams above are suspended four
slaughtered horses, which have been
only disemboweled. None of them
could have boasted of fatness; but they
now seem to rejoice among themselves
that they have at last run away from
civilized mankind. There are at present
sixteen horse butchers in Berlin, who at
this time of the year are pretty busy,
for as agricultural labors are nearly end
ed, the unhappy farm horses are got rid
of at cheap rates. And how many
horses are disposed of here2 Last year
they killed over 1900. This year the
number will be greater. They now
slaughter sixteen a day on the average,
but frequently as many as twenty-five.
And what is the value of a dead
horse ? On an average from twenty to
thirty thalers. The skin fetches from
eight to twelve dollars. The bones are
the perquisites of the proprietor; and
for them he receives from glue manufac-
turers and bone burners a remunerative
little sum. The larger viscera, such as
the liver, heart, and milt, are sold as food
for dogs. The small intestines, after
being cleaned and salted, are sent to
seaports, where they are utilized as en-.
velopes for all those different kinds OF
preserved meats used on board ships.
The blood is emptied into large tin
troughs, where the albumen is separated
from it and sent to Prague. In that
city large albumen mandatory has
for years taken this material on con-
tract.
Finally, the fesh-but that goes to
the horse butchers; and we may readily
believe that the 1900 horses become
food. "The dogs get the most of it,
said our conductor, and then he pointed
out large, clear liver hanging to a
post, and remarked that it tasted very
much like pigs liver. "But what the
hounds do not get," he added, while he
seemed to invoke the flavor of horse
beefsteaks, "only poor people eat. Res
taurants and SUCH"
Yet we could not help wondering at
our own inconsistency. These fine
pieces of meat we regarded with aver
sion, while at our feet dozen ducks
were smacking their bills in the gutter,
and probably the birds would soon ap-
pear before us as savory roasts. There
in the stable stood fat pony, healthy
and rotund. Was he also to be slaugh-
tered Certainly. He had bad hoof,
the curing of which would cost too
much in food and time. And there next
to him stood-an ass Happiness and
impudence equally blended in his coun-
tenance. What was he doing here He
had been raf1ed away at Swiss garden.
Perhaps a weaver had won him, and,
finding no room for the little animal un-
der his loom, had sold him to the
slaughterers. "And, excellent conduc-
tor" we inquired, difidently, "what
will be done with the ass flesh 2"
Yes-what is to be said-for restaur-
ants and the like it is not-the flesh OF
the ass is-yes, it is very often used for
sausages |"
We thanked our good informant, and
took leave. In the nearest restaurant
we partook of refreshment, rejoicing in
the meantime that the ass still lived.