106 ANIMA.L FOOD RESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



working value becomes less than the sum of their food 

 and manufacturing values, and this proportion includes 

 the class of which the working value is more than their 

 manufacturing value, but less than the above sum. We 

 may estimate roughly that one-tenth of all the horses 

 reach this condition yearly. Then, on this million 

 animals, the food value is directly realisable, and there- 

 fore the wealth of the country may be considered as 

 actually increased by the £6,000,000 derivable therefrom. 



Moreover, in order that the horses should be available 

 to the butcher, they must not be diseased or worn out. 

 By this the owners are directly benefited, since, while on 

 one hand they are obliged to sell their horses in fair 

 condition, they are saved the expense of keeping the 

 animals when the latter become used up and are unable 

 to do but light work, though requiring more attention 

 and more feed. So also with colts, which, whether they 

 become gx)od or bad horses, cost about the same to raise. 

 If the animal bids fair to turn out poorly, he can be dis- 

 posed of at once and at a remunerative price. The 

 result of this weeding out in youth and destroying 

 when old, coupled with the facilities which the former 

 affords of selection of the best types, will naturally con- 

 duce to the improvement of breeds and a general benefit 

 to the entire equine population of the country. 



We can adduce no more striking example of the art of 

 utilisation than the mode in which the French deal with 

 their superannuated chargers. On the 1st of January 

 last, France contained fifty horse abattoirs, and during 

 last year consumed 2,850,144 lbs. of horse, mule, and 

 ass meat. The flesh of each horse weighs about 450 lbs. 

 The skin is sold to the tanner for 10s. 6d. The hair of 

 the mane and tail fetches l^d. The hoofs are bought by 

 comb, or toy, or sal ammoniac, or Prussian blue, makers. 

 The tendons are taken to glue factories. There are 

 about ninety pounds of bone, worth 2s. 6d. The intes- 

 tines, for purposes of manure, or as food for dogs, cats, 

 and pigs, bring 2^d. The blood is purchased principally 

 by the sugar refiners, but also by fatteners of poultry and 



