46 PRELIMINARY COLD STORAGE STUDIES. 



showed signs of degeneration of the organs, but the odor was not bad, 

 though a little stale. Both fowls were in fairly good condition. 



After 15.5 months of cold storage, on October 22, 1907, the 

 undrawn bird again presented a better appearance generally than 

 the drawn one, both internally and externally. The flesh of the two 

 fowls was somewhat discolored, but the odor was not bad. The 

 liver, the lungs, and the muscle tissue were all in better condition in 

 the undrawn chicken. 



On January 23, 1908, when the chickens had been in cold stoiage 

 for 18.5 months, they were again examined. There was practically 

 no disagreement as to the inferiority of the undrawn bird in tins 

 test, both the internal and external appearance, and also the odor, 

 showing clear evidences of degeneration. 



The conclusion drawn from the examination of the uncooked 

 chicken is that after 12 or 15- months of cold storage the undrawn 

 chicken appears better than the drawn, while after 18 months in 

 storage the undrawn chicken is in decidedly the worse condition of 

 the two in every respect. 



Detailed descriptions of the appearance of the chickens at the last 

 two examinations are appended and the results obtained in the 

 organoleptic tests are comparable with the bacteriological findings 

 of corresponding dates, such birds having been from the same lot. 



Macroscopical examination of fresh and cold-storage chickens, October 22, 1907., after 15 



months of cold storage. 



f. a w. 



Fresh (black chicken). — Color of skin "white; tissues normal, soft and elastic with 

 normal odor; breast muscles soft, yielding, and elastic, nearly colorless; thigh 

 muscles normal, the various muscles being easily differentiated by color, muscle 

 sheath, and elasticity. Liver firm, elastic, and of normal color; gall bladder 

 normal; intestines firm, resistant, contour well marked, normal color, small blood 

 vessels noticeable. 



Drawn. — Yellow color; odor not bad (too cold to test); tissues dry, firm, dehydrated, 

 and adherent in places, though not to such an extent as the undrawn bird; 

 breast muscles dry, moderately firm, striations not so marked, lighter pink color 

 and better appearance than undrawn chicken; thigh muscles hard, dead appear- 

 ance; colors of various muscles not differentiated. Liver and lungs hardly recog- 

 nized from then gross appearance; heart not a bad color; gizzard fairly good 

 condition. 



Undrawn (Barred Plymouth Rock chicken). — External color yellow; odor not bad 

 (bird too cold to test); tissue dry, firm, dehydrated and adherent in places; 

 breast muscles moderately dry, firm, striations rather marked, dull pink color 

 nearly red, not natural; thigh muscles hard and rather dry near external surface, 

 dark red in color; muscles not clearly differentiated in color and muscle sheaths 

 not well marked. Liver soft, faded and mottled color, with tissue neither natural 

 nor elastic; gall bladder partly empty and pale green; gizzard a little darker 

 than normal; heart not a marked blood color; intestines soft, mushy, and pale, 

 all traces of blood vessels gone; fat rather vellow. 



