QUAIL COLD-STORED UNDER KNOWN CONDITIONS. 



43 



The drawn birds of this lot Nos. 757 and 758 were in a bad 

 state of preservation externally and internally. The breast muscles 

 were soft and degenerated, stained red where in contact with the 

 bone, and the bone marrow was absorbed. The portions of the vis- 

 cera left in situ were dark, bloody, gaseous, and slimy. 



It will be observed from even the small number of birds exam- 

 ined, and here listed, that the problem becomes even more compli- 

 cated than in the case of the chickens, because the method of killing 

 is almost certain to introduce bacteria which may be carried into the 

 deepest tissues and, as in the case here noted, result in the rupturing 

 of the intestine and the pollution of the entire body cavity. The 

 prompt dressing and cooking of birds so injured would render this 

 factor unimportant. If, on the other hand, the birds are exposed 

 for sale for a number of days before being disposed of, or being un- 

 sold are, at the expiration of such a time, transferred to cold storage, 

 the condition may be menacing. It would seem, in the case of quail 

 even more than in the case of chickens, most desirable that a very 

 prompt transference to the storage warehouse be made, or that the 

 birds be dressed and sterilized by heat as soon as possible after 

 killing. 



Bacteriological examination of fresh and cold-storage quail. 

 FRESH QUAIL. 



STORAGE QUAIL. 



4433 I Undrawn 



4073 Drawn.. 



a From same lot of quail, results comparable. 



b All cultures numbered refer to bacteria not classified. 



