6 COMPARATIVE KATE OF DECOMPOSITION IN MARKET POULTRY. 



these compounds, also, forming an index of decomposition. The 

 number of bacteria in a given quantity of flesh is of importance in the 

 consideration of decomposition, as well as the general character of the 

 organisms present. The number of bacteria in the tissues lining the 

 body cavity were of especial importance in the problem under dis- 

 cussion, since the viscera, and especially the intestines, have been 

 held to be a source of contamination. 



Accordingly, the number of bacteria in 1 gram of tissue removed 

 from the body wall of the fowls has been determined. This tissue 

 consisted of the thin muscle coat which forms the wall of the abdomen 

 as well as the mucous membrane which lines the interior of the body 

 cavity, and which comes into direct contact with the intestines in the 

 undrawn bird, and is subjected to mechanical contamination when 

 evisceration is practiced. 



The results obtained in the laboratory have been considered in the 

 light of temperature, time, general surroundings, and visual findings. 

 A correlation of the various facts gathered with the conditions 

 observed has shown that the chemical and bacteriological examina- 

 tions of the laboratory are more accurate and more reliable than 

 mere observations of color, odor, texture, etc., and, in addition, they 

 eliminate the personal equation and yield a fundamental series of 

 facts by which the soundness of chicken flesh can be graded. Some 

 such facts have been obtained from a series of shipments of eviscerated 

 and partially eviscerated fowls. 



These shipments extended over a period of six months, from Janu- 

 ary until June, inclusive ; hence atmospheric temperature had a wide 

 range. All the birds were mature hens, large and fairly fat. They 

 were killed by cutting, from inside the mouth, the blood vessels of the 

 neck and by puncturing the brain through the skull just below the 

 eye. Only well-bled birds were selected for these experiments, 

 because incomplete bleeding causes accelerated decomposition and is 

 being investigated on its own account. Here the endeavor was to 

 keep the main problem unhampered by side issues. 



Dry picking was used for the same reason, since scalded birds 

 decompose more rapidly under any circumstances. 



CONDITIONS OF THE EXPERIMENT. 

 METHODS OF DRESSING. 



The dressing of the carcasses was done according to three methods 

 known respectively as "full drawn," "wire drawn/' and "Boston 

 drawn.' 7 For the "full drawn" specimens -the body cavity was 

 opened by a transverse cut across the abdomen, and the vent was 

 removed by cutting around it. The head was cut off and the intes- 

 tines and viscera completely removed. The heart, liver, and cleaned 



