14 STUDIES OF POULTRY. 



increase in the lower nitrogen bodies, proteoses, and peptones. There 

 is also a decrease in the coagulable nitrogen and in the amino bodies. 

 The lecithin phosphorus was observed to decrease in stored eggs 

 after 3.5 months. 



Howard and Read (Bulletin 115) observed characteristic rosette 

 crystals in the yolk of eggs stored 12.6 months. The composition of 

 these crystals was not determined, but the fact that they were not 

 tyrosin was established. 



The bacterial content of storage eggs has been examined by Stiles 

 (Bulletin 115). He reported a fairly numerous but varying number 

 of organisms after three months' storage. Then a decrease took place 

 until about twenty months, when the sample was sterile. A number 

 of common saprophytic species of organisms were isolated from the 

 shorter storage samples. 



As a preliminary to the study of the effects of handling on the 

 quality of eggs, Pennington a has reported the chemical composition 

 and bacterial content of fresh eggs, whites and yolks separately, 

 from both Leghorn and Plymouth Rock hens. The species of the 

 organisms found in the eggs was also determined. 



INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION OF REFRIGERATION. 



The knowledge of the application of mechanical refrigeration to 

 the poultry industry has been, until recently, confined to compara- 

 tively few. Those few have acquired what information they possess 

 by selecting and applying practices which carried the poultry to the 

 consumer in " good order." But, since standards of excellence vary, 

 the term " quality," as used by the various packers, is variable in 

 meaning. 



A close study of conditions resulting in good or bad quality, so far 

 as decomposition is concerned, has now been instituted by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture in cooperation with all the branches 

 of the industry. For instance, the killing and dressing of the fowls 

 is studied with the packer; their transportation to market is being 

 worked out with the cooperation of the railroads of the United States; 

 the study of the cold-storage question is facilitated by every means 

 which the cold-storage warehousemen have at their disposal ; and the 

 marketing of the goods is studied in the establishments and with the 

 help of commission men, jobbers, and retailers throughout the country. 



Since this article endeavors to set forth the practical application of 

 refrigeration to the handling of dressed poultry in the United States, 

 the subject will be treated in chronological order, beginning with the 

 slaughterhouse and the removal of animal heat by chilled air. Then 



J. Biol. Chern., 1910, 7 : 109-132. 

 [Cir. 64] 



