APPENDIX. 113 



4. The usual method of drawing poultry leads to heavy bacterial infection, which 

 promotes more rapid decomposition than occurs in undrawn birds. 



5. By ligature of the gullet below the crop, poultry can be completely drawn with- 

 out any spilling of the intestinal contents, with consequent bacterial invasion of the 

 abdominal cavity; and poultry so drawn would undoubtedly withstand decompo- 

 sition and deterioration much longer than that which is undrawn. 



6. The practice of depositing poultry in cold storage when in the beginning or 

 advanced stages of decomposition, in order to save it, is dangerous to the health of the 

 consumer, since when it is again withdrawn for sale its condition is unaltered. 



7. Proper and adequate inspection of poultry as it enters cold storage is desirable, 

 and storage of material already in process of decomposition should be prohibited. 



8. The practice of placing cold-storage poultry in cold water for a number of hours 

 for the purpose of thawing causes heavy bacterial infection and consequent more 

 rapid decomposition than occurs when thawing is allowed to proceed slowly at room 

 temperature. Such treatment causes also a material increase in weight, by reason 

 of absorption by the tissues of water, to the detriment of the purse of the purchaser, 

 and hence is fraudulent. 



SACRAMENTO, CAL., ORDINANCE. 



The city of Sacramento has an ordinance relating to and regulating 

 the sale of undrawn, slaughtered fish, game, and any animal to be 

 used for food purposes within the limits of the city of Sacramento, 

 and has prescribed a punishment for the violation of the provisions 

 thereof. This ordinance forbids any person, firm, or corporation to 

 sell, offer, or expose for sale any slaughtered animal used for food 

 purposes, refrigerated or otherwise, which has not been properly 

 drawn and prepared by removing the viscera at the time of slaughter, 

 and any person, firm, or corporation failing to follow the provisions 

 of this ordinance is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished 

 by a fine not exceeding $100 or by imprisonment in the city prison 

 not exceeding fifty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. This 

 ordinance went into effect on and after the date of February 1, 1905. 



ENACTMENTS IN ILLINOIS. 



The Illinois State board of health has issued a pamphlet to the 

 municipalities of the State of Illinois strongly recommending that 

 there be enacted and enforced ordinances prohibiting the sale of fish, 

 game, or any animal used for food which has not been properly drawn 

 and cleaned at the time of slaughter. A paragraph in this pamphlet 

 reads as follows: 



It is known to all physicians and physiologists that there are generated in the body 

 of any animal poisons of the highest degree of toxicity. The intestines and other 

 digestive organs contain at all times materials which have undergone putrefactive 

 changes. If this material be permitted to remain in the body after death, the poisons 

 generated may infiltrate the entire flesh, making it dangerous to the person who eats 

 it. The body in which the viscera are permitted to remain undergoes decomposition 

 much more rapidly than when such viscera have been removed. Decomposition is 

 further hastened by leaving the blood in the vessels of the body. 

 49078— Bull. 115—08 8 



