ICE. 409 
considers the careful and cleanly habits of this quadruped, and 
compares them with those of the pig, which disgusts nobody, 
save the Jews. To conclude that the root of objection to Horse- 
flesh as food for man is of a religious character is new to most of 
us, but the fact has much to commend it. Our Scandinavian 
forefathers appreciated Horse-flesh highly; they sacrificed white 
horses annually to Odin, the priests and people feasting royally 
on the flesh afterwards; so that Horse-flesh banquets acquired 
a religious significance, which led to their being subsequently 
interdicted with stern aversion by the early preachers of 
Christianity. Thus, it is alleged, was created a prejudice which 
time has not even yet eradicated. But of late Professor Pfluger 
has been making extensive experiments with Horse-flesh, in 
order to test its nutritive, and other properties. His decision 
on the subject is very clear. He declares emphatically his 
conclusion that Horse-flesh is injurious to everyone who eats it. 
He is convinced that it is almost, if not altogether, deficient in 
true nutritive properties; and he avows that, so far from being 
fit food for man, Horse-flesh is not desirable sustenance even for 
animals (dogs, for instance), containing as it undoubtedly does 
a certain poisonous substance, the exact nature of which is not 
yet determined. 
In Alice through the Looking Glass, the Rocking-horse fly 
(made of wood) is said to live on sap, and sawdust ; whilst the 
Snap-dragon fly (made of plum pudding, with wings of holly 
leaves, and for its head a raisin burning in brandy,) lives on 
frumenty, and mince pie, making its nest in a Christmas box. 
HORSE-RADISH (See Heres). 
Pepys records in his diary, on September 16th, 1664, “‘ met Mr. 
Pargiter, and he would needs have me drink a cup of Horse-radish 
ale, which he and a friend of his, troubled with the stone, have 
been drinking of, which we did.” Pepys himself had been 
successfully cut for the stone six years before, on March 26th, 
1658. 
ICE. 
Enormovs quantities of frozen meat are now brought over to 
this country from America, New Zealand, and Australia. A 
chamber on board ship is specially kept cool throughout the 
