FLESH FOOD FEOM MAMMALS. 



107 



fertilizer manufacturers. Twenty pounds of dried blood, 

 which is the average, are worth nearly 2s. The fat goes 

 to the soap kettle, or is transformed into genuine "bear's 

 grease," which, delicately perfumed and elegantly put 

 up, fetches some exorbitant prices in the apothecary 

 stores of the United States ; or else it is used as harness 

 grease or as lamp oil. The yield is from eight to twelve 

 pounds, at a value of 5d. a pound. Finally, it is said 

 that even the waste flesh is allowed to decompose, and 

 the maggots'gathered as pheasant food, but this seems 

 rathpr apocryphal. These utilisations are of course 

 entirely outside the food supply. 



Horse flesh, in comparison with the price o£ ordinary 

 meat, is not dear. The relation of nitrogenous material 

 is found by analysis to be higher in horse than in ox- 

 flesh. 



In two horses, both lean and healthy, the following 

 was found by analysis to be the composition (the ash 

 not estimated being about one per cent.) : — - 



M. Decroix, the strongest advocate for the use of 

 horseflesh, says that this meat is to that of bullocks what 

 seconds bread is to fine bread— not quite so palatable but 

 more nutritious. 



M. Engstrom, in his Consular report from Gothenburg, 

 in December, 1855, stated that the great rise in the price 

 of beef and other meats (averaging 5^d. per lb.), had led 

 of late to the use of horse-flesh among the poorer classes. 



