Scientific Intelligence. Anthropology. 201 



the use of the workmen themselves, or are they sold in the city ?"* 

 The question of legalizing horse-flesh seems to have occupied 

 the attention of the French authorities very deeply. M. Du- 

 chatelet, who is a vehement advocate for the practice, insists 

 upon two points ; first, the perfect fitness of the article for the 

 purpose of food ; and, secondly, the impossibility of preventing 

 its clandestine sale. If, he contends, the sale be permitted, 

 every guarantee can be obtained for the wholesome and cleanly 

 preparation of the meat, which cannot otherwise be insured ; 

 and the public would not risk purchasing it disguised under 

 another appellation, at the higher price of the other more 

 esteemed species of meat. The state of things to be inferred 

 from these details, does not augur well for the general condi- 

 tion of the working classes in Paris ; and it is probably but too 

 true, that however comfortable may be the mode of living of 

 those above the lowest, yet that the utter unskilled labourers 

 are for the most part accustomed to the greatest hardships. A. 

 Londoner of the lowest class would suffer much and long pri- 

 vation before he would tolerate the bare idea of feeding upon 

 any unaccustomed article of diet ; but if such an article came 

 from a source so disgusting and suspicious, mere starvation 

 alone would compel him to adopt it. On the point of clandes- 

 tine consumption, there is perhaps greater equality between the 

 two capitals than the public is aware of. Considering the enor- 

 mous size of London, and the avidity of its speculators, it can 

 hardly be doubted that much dressed food is sold within its 

 precincts, whose origin and preparation would not bear too ri- 

 gid scrutiny. Fortunately, ' what the eye sees not,' &c. ; and 

 it is well if no material less really unwholesome than horse- 

 flesh is selected for the purpose." Athenaeum, Nov. 12. 1836. 

 17. The Illyrmn Dwarf M. Geoffroy St Hilaire gave 

 IS Academic des Sciences at Paris, some details respecting this 

 remarkable dwarf, who is distinguished by the exact propor- 

 tion of the several parts of his body. This individual, whose 

 name is Mathias Gullia, was born in Illyricum, at Breda, a vil- 

 lage not far from Trieste. He is now twenty-two years of 

 age ; and his height is not more than (one metre) three feet 

 three inches. Until the age of five years, his physical develop- 

 ment exhibited nothing particular ; but after that time he 



