HYDATID IN THE BRAIN OF SHEEP. 
461 
the Odin religion, and was a great obstacle to the establish- 
ment of Christianity among the people of the north : for, 
whenever a Scandinavian, even though converted, ate horse- 
flesh, his mind reverted to the recollection of his former 
faith. Hence, at an early period, the popes prohibited the 
use of this article of food. In the eighth century. Pope 
Gregory III wrote to St. Boniface, archbishop of Mayence, 
to “ abolish the custom by all possible means, and impose a 
proper penance on all eaters of horseflesh. They are unclean, 
and the act is execrable.” His successor, Pope Zacharias, 
renewed the interdiction. 
Now that the motive of the prohibition issued by the popes 
has disappeared for many years, the use of horseflesh is 
being gradually resumed ; and it is remarkable, that it is 
first resumed by those who were the latest to abandon it. 
Denmark leads the way : in that country, horseflesh is sold 
publicly under the inspection of the government. For some 
years, Belgium has followed the example : and recently the 
Austrian government has authorised the public sale of this 
article of food. 
It is to be hoped that France will not be the last country 
to throw off old prejudices. A wholesome, nutritious, econo- 
mical article of food is lost in France by millions : and at the 
same time there exist millions of individuals insufficiently fed, 
and physically and morally deteriorated. The use of this 
article of food w T ould regenerate them, and give to the state a 
class of robust and intelligent servants. If Ireland had been 
put in possession of this article of food, that country would 
perhaps not have offered the spectacle of one entire people 
torn by famine from their ancestral soil. 
In conclusion, M. Geoffroy St. Hiliare observed that at 
first horseflesh must be regarded as food for the poor : it is 
in this character that its utility will be first show r n. The 
rich will use it if they please ; and they ought to make use 
of it for the sake of example, and to prevent the poor from 
imagining that the use of horseflesh is one of the sad privi- 
leges of misery. ( Gazette Meclicale de Paris , 10th March, 
1855 ; and Journal of Public Health.) 
ON THE HYDATID IN THE BRAIN OF SHEEP. 
The Ccenurus Cerebralis (hydatid of the brain) is one of the 
entozoa which most interests the veterinary surgeon. This 
creature belongs to the order originally designated cystic 
xxviii. 59 
