40 PRELIMINARY COLD STORAGE STUDIES. 



BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION. 



The bacteriological examination of quail was conducted along the 

 same lines as was the examination of cold-storage and fresh chickens. 

 As before stated, they were killed especially for this work. Half of 

 the number was drawn, the other half left undrawn, and all placed 

 in the freezer as promptly as possible. The feathers were not re- 

 moved. Thawing was ordinarily allowed to proceed at 10 to 12 C., 

 after which the examination was conducted as promptly as possible. 



Because of the difficulty in obtaining fresh birds at all seasons of 

 the year, it was sometimes necessary to examine those in storage 

 without having a fresh bird at the same time for comparison. When- 

 ever possible, however, fresh birds were obtained, and in one case a 

 bird which had been 3 weeks in storage was used as a basis of com- 

 parison. Even so short a period, however, caused minor irregularities, 

 hence the findings for this quail can not be accepted as absolute. 



In all, 4 fresh quail have been examined, 3 being from the same 

 lot. No. 4272 was examined as the comparate of the birds in storage 

 for 11.5 months. The other fresh quail were tested simultaneously 

 with the birds in storage for 13 months. 



No. 4272 showed a number of bloody spots, which indicated the 

 site of the shot wounds. It had also a broken leg and a broken 

 wing. The body cavity showed that the shot had penetrated and 

 had torn the viscera as well as broken the intestinal walls, which 

 permitted the diffusion of the contents throughout the body cavity. 

 Such a condition would of course infect any organ which had been 

 damaged by shot. Those which were not so damaged were sterile. 

 The species isolated, and their location, are listed in the table 

 under sample No. 4272. 



Nos. 752 and 754 were in good condition except for shot wounds 

 which had torn the viscera of No. 752. No. 753 was badly torn, 

 both externally and internally, and was dark in color for a fresh bird. 

 There was no marked odor or discoloration, yet decomposition had 

 apparently begun. 



The first examination was made when the quail had been in stor- 

 age for three months. The external appearance of both the drawn 

 and the undrawn quail was good. The body, however, was altered 

 in shape from pressure while in the case. The undrawn was the 

 better looking of the two. Both birds had a peculiar odor, not 

 very strong but suggestive of rancid fat, which was more pronounced 

 in the undrawn than in the drawn. Several small areas on the breast 

 muscle showed evidences of desiccation, and in the drawn quail this 

 muscle showed shot wounds, which were surrounded by a bloody 

 exudate. The fibers of the muscle were brittle. 



"Examination conducted by G. W. Stiles. 



