Hippophagy.

Hippophagy. Hippophagi (Gr., 'eaters of horse-flesh') was a name given by the Greeks to a Scythian people, living north-east of the Caspian Sea, and to a Sarmatian tribe north of the Euxine. In some parts of modern Europe horse-flesh is a regular and wholesome article of diet. In France a society of hippophagists was formed under the auspices of Geoffroy St Hilaire; in 1866 the sale of horse-flesh in the Paris markets as an article of food was officially recognised and regulated; and during the siege of Paris horse-flesh was gladly eaten by all who could get it. In 1872 about 5000, in 1895 over 30,000, horses were eaten in Paris alone. In Britain an act was passed in 1889 regulating the sale of horse-flesh, requiring that all horse-flesh (or flesh of asses and mules) exposed for sale shall be expressly so described in legible and conspicuous characters, and imposing a penalty of £20 on any one breaking this rule, or giving any one horse-flesh who has asked for meat other than horse-flesh.