The true northerner., 1876-10-27
EATING HORSE.



A Horse sIaught er-House in Berlin-How
the Dead Horses are Utiiissd.
[From the Berlin Montags ZeitungJ io
In the Observation-Disclosures, not far
from the new Kingsgate, appears above
q high fence big sign with the inscrip-
tion: Central Horse Slaughter House"
Two well-executed horses hee ds in wood,
painted brown, are placed at the sides OF
the sign, as who should neigh "Step
within, honored, yet much tormented
equines. Leave behind you all fear Of
the whips OF mankind" A massive por-
tai leads within to large, roughly paved
court, on the left side of which, in q
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 slaughtered
in Berlin must be brought here alive.
The animal is first examined by the vet
erinarian, and only upon his expressed
judgment can it be killed. To day, 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
ended, tie 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 day on the average,
but frequently as many as twenty-five.
And what is the value of dead horse
On an average, from twenty to thirty
thalers. The skin fetches from eight to
twelve dollars. The bones are tho per-
quisites of the proprietor, and for them
he receives from glne manufacturers 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 rs envelopes 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 al
bumen mandatory has for years taken
this material on contract.
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 post,
and remarked that it tasted very much
like pigs liver. "But what the hounds
do not get, he added, willie he seemed
to invoke the flavor of horse beefsteaks,
"only poor people eat. Restaurants
and such-Heaven preserve us !"'-and
he became quite serious, did our con-
ductor. .,...
Yet we could not help wondering at
our own inconsistency. These fine pieces
of meat we regarded with aversion, while
at our feet a dozen ducks were smacking
their bills in the gutter, and probably
the birds would soon appear before us
as savory rOasts. There in the stable
stood fat pony, healthy and rotund.
Was he also to be slaughtereda Ger
tainly. He had bad hoof, the curing
of which would cost too much in food
and time. And there next to him stood
on ass happiness and impudence
equally blended in his countenanoe.
What was he doing here2 He had been
raffied away at Swiss garden. Perhaps
weaver had won him, and, finding no
room for the little animal under his
loom. had sold him to the slaughterers.
"And, excellent conductor, we inquired
diffidentay, "what will be done with the
ass flesh2" "Yes-what is to be said
for restaurants and the like it is not
but, Heaven preserve us-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.