Emile Decroix, a military veterinary surgeon, promoter of horse meat consumption in France and precursor of fight against smoking

Emile Decroix, veterinarian, was an Army major (1821-1901) who committed life-long philanthropic actions to the detriment of his career and his fortune. Sustained by an irrepressible will and an irrepressible charisma, he was the promoter of the consumption of horse meat in France and the forgotten originator of the fight against tobacco, which was a public health action one century before the concept was internationally recognized by authorities.

Bull.Soc.Hist.Méd.Sci.Vét., 2008, 8 : 4-12