The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-09-20
HORSE MEAT FOR FOOD.
The Prejudice Against Clearly and
Nutrcious Edible.
Horse Flesh Esteemed ii Deiicacy in Paris
Opinions of Philadelphia Doctors and
Preachcrs-.A Pertinent Sugges-
ton for PiiSon Fare.

Preachcrs-A Pertinent SuGses-
ton for Prison Fare.
Fo3ert Ho41co n, Ph5r Press.
Is horse flesh fit for food for man?
Yes.
1t is to be conceded in the very off
start that there is universal feeling of
repugnance against the eating Of horse
flesh. For the most part, this preju-
dice is as honorable to the sentiment
OF human nature as it is discreditaDlc
to It's intelligence. There can be no
doubt that the feeling is entirely due to
mans intimate personal association with
the horse Is his valor in arms viCto-
rIous ?-thc horse shared his glory.
Has he returned to peace and welded
the sword into the pIowshare ?-thc
horse participates in his peaceful sue
ceSscs. The horse and the dog, they
are mans animal companions. They
know him in his every mood. To
slaughter .hem would seem murder; to
eat them, cannibalism.
Beside this purely sentimental, there
probably Is superstitious reason for
not eating horse flesh. No one indl-
vidual would acknowledge its influence
directly, yet few would venture to defy
1t. The learned Rabbi DR.. Sabato Mo,
rals, in a conversation about the matter
a day or two ago, said that the reason
the Jew did not use horse flesh as food
was because it was prohibited by the
Old Testament in the eleventh chapter
of Levticus, where was forbidden the
use Of the flesh of any animal that had
not the cloven hoof and that did not
chew the cuI.
AN INHERITED SUPERSTITION.
ust as We got the idea and the form
of sacrifice from the lew, 50 have we
inherited religious awe, a superstitious
dread, Of eating horse flesh. Rabbi
Morals dwct upon the fact, however.
that the use Of the flesh of uncloyen
animals as meat was not forbidden to
any people but the Jews. On more
than one occasion, when the restric-
tons as to food are laid down. occur
in the Scriptures the words, these
thing are forbidden HUko roH." The
rabbi was very certain that the horse
IS far cleaner and more wholesome
animal than the hog He thought that
as the laws of Moses were sanitary as
well as spiritual, perhaps the horse was
not wholesome article Of diet.
1t is not difficult to trace the Chris
tian's prejudice back to Jewish prohi-
bition and if this be done, what other
objection to the eating Of horse meat
can be satisfactorily sustained? Ask a
chance passcr-by why horse flesh is not
good to eat, and the response will be
that he does not believe it unfit for
food, but that he does not use it be-
cause he can get full supply of other
meats which he IS used to, and that as
he was brought up not to eat horse
flesh, he would, have prejudice; an
uncomfortable repugnance to it.
THE PLENTY OF OTHER MEATS.
Untounded prejudice is ignorance.
10 combat ignorance is the most diff.
cut possible assault The plenty Of
the meat to which all are accustomed
is Only an almost insurmountaDle OBJ
staclc to that intelligent discussion and
experiment that would readily establish
a comprehensive and comprehensive
solution. Notwithstanding this abund-
anCe OF other meats. none will be found
to deny that if the meat of the 10000
horses that are either allowed to die or
are killed every year in the state OF
Pennsylvania could be prepared for the
use OF man, it would be a highly deSir-
able achievement in political economy.
The experience of continental Eu-
rope has amply proved that horse flesh
is savory, nutritious and wholesome
article of food, declares the "American
Encyclopaedia" When one considers
that almost every part of the horse aftel
death is useful to man, there will prob
ably be less antipathy to the idea O
broiling steak from the well-fatted
rump of carefully slaughtered Pcrche-
ron. The horse skin IS valuable fol-
gloves, and the krupp leather make:
the very best walking boot. The hai
makes the cloth for much of the parlol
furniture and those bones that are no
suitable for buttons make a most excel
lent fertilizer. The hoofs are mucl
sought by manufacturers Of glue, anC
the intestines enter largely into tn,
manufacture of delicate membranou
tissues. Yet, generally in the state o
Pennsylvania, these commercial use
are ignored in the plenitude of othe
resources. Still no one would argu
r that, because horse hides are not tan
ned, they are not fit for leather.
+ HORSE EATING IN FRANCE.
, 1t is thoroughly well known to til
i intelligent that the horse is commo
article Of diet in France. In Paris tn
use of horse meat most largely obtain
for many reasons. Four-flths of tn
restaurants Of that city serve a kind {
II ~. ,-...