Viande

Fr. Meat; animal food. In the old regime every French soldier was allowed half a pound of meat per day. M. de Louvois, who was minister of war under the old government of France, formed a plan, recommending, that a quantity of dried meat, reduced to powder, should be distributed to troops on service. He took the idea from a custom which is prevalent in the East. He did not, however, live to fulfil his intentions, although he had already constructed copper ovens that were large enough to contain eight bullocks. Very excellent broth can be made of this powder; one ounce of which boiled in water, will supply a sufficient quantity for four men; and one pound of fresh meat gives one ounce of powder; so that, according to the inventor’s a ertion, there is a saving of one pound. The portable soup-balls which are sold for sea use, are of the same nature.