CYCLOPEDIA OF

USEFUL ARTS,

Mechanical and Chemical,

MANUFACTURES, MINING AND ENGINEERING.

ABATTOIR (from the French verb abattre, to fell or knock down), a term applied to an establishment situated on the outskirts of a large town, where animals are slaughtered for supplying the inhabitants with meat. In ancient Rome, a corporation of butchers had the privilege of supplying the city with meat. These butchers, who were for a long period scattered over different parts of the city, were at length collected into a single quarter. In the reign of the Emperor Nero, the grand market, with its slaughter-houses, formed a magnificent establishment, which has been recorded to posterity in a medal. In Paris, from time immemorial, a corporation of butchers had the privilege of purchasing cattle and supplying the city with meat; but here the policy of the Romans ceased to be imitated, for the cattle, purchased at the markets of Sceaux or Poissy, were driven through the public streets to the butchers' shops, before which they were slaughtered and prepared for sale, the refuse

animal matters being stored in large tubs; the whole
arrangement being as dangerous to the persons and
health of the inhabitants as it was offensive to the sight.
Many of the objections which applied to Paris, still
A remedy for these evils had long engaged the
apply to London and other large towns of England.
attention of the French government. The butchers
themselves were most energetic in opposing a change;
but at length the strong hand of the Emperor Napoleon
put down all opposition, and, by a decree dated 9th
February, 1810, it was ordered, that five abattoirs
should be erected in the neighbourhood of Paris at
the expense of the city, under the direction of a Com-
mittee of Architects and Engineers appointed for the
purpose. Plans were accordingly prepared with the
assistance and advice of a retired master butcher.
Eight years were occupied in carrying them into execu-
The five abattoirs of Paris are those of Roule, and
tion, and they were opened for public use in 1818.