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HORSE-FLESH USED FOR HUMAN FOOD. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Dear Sir, — SEEING among the " Miscellanea” of your last 
number an account of a “ Horse-flesh Banquet,” I venture to send 
you the following curious extract from the “ Manuel d’Hygiene” 
of J. M. Briand : — 
“ Horse-flesh, although not used for food in Europe at the pre- 
sent time (except in cases of great scarcity of other provision) was 
formerly in great demand as an article of consumption, until the 
use of it was interdicted by Pope Boniface the Third. The mo- 
tives of this interdiction do not appear ; but notwithstanding the 
bull of the Roman pontiff, horse-flesh is publicly sold in the 
butchers’ shops at Copenhagen ; and, to prevent the flesh of dis- 
eased horses being sold, the animals are previously examined by 
a veterinary surgeon, and a mark put on their hoofs, which are to 
be left attached to the quarters, as a guide for purchasers. Horse- 
flesh is rather hard, but of good flavour, very nutritious, and 
equally as wholesome as that of the ox.” 
The same author farther remarks, in respect to donkeys, 
u The toughness of the ass has passed into a proverb. This, 
no doubt, has been much exaggerated. Ass-flesh was not dis- 
dained by our forefathers, particularly that of the young animals. 
Plinius informs us that with Mecenius it was a favourite and choice 
dish. According to Legrand d’Aussey, the Chancellor Duprat 
fattened asses on purpose for his table.” 
Wm. Ernes. 
Dockhead, Nov. 18, 1847. 
ETHER SUPERSEDED. 
(From the Edinburgh Mercury.) 
ETHER inhalation, which promised to impart such an invaluable 
aid to surgical science, had not been in use for twelve months, 
when another and far more effective anaesthetic agent was disco- 
vered, for which we are indebted to Professor Simpson, viz. chloro- 
form, or the perchloride of formyle. The composition of chloro- 
