Evening star., 1894-01-13
UNDRAWN POULTRY.
Cold Storage Does Not Prevent Degra-
datiOn of the Food.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
An interested public has noted with great
satisfaction that the health officer of the
District has taken hand in the matter Of
''undrawn poultry" with view of ascer-
tanning If there is sufficient groun for pro-
hibiting its sale within the limits of the
District. Whatever may be the result Of
the examination now being conducted by
the chemist Of the department, there are
certain conditions and certain cons:dera-
tions of vital interest to the public, which
may not come fully within the limits Of a
chemical analysis, to which 1 desire re-
spectfully to call the attention of the de-
partment.
These conditions relate chiefly to un-
drawn poultry in cold storage. The food
within rm-blooded animals IN health un-
dergoes rapid digestion AMI absorption,
leaving a certain portion oil decdyIns and
onensive residuum, against wnicn, as Ior-
eign and poisonous material. tle living It's
sues act in resistance until it is thrown out
OF the body. Upon the cessation of life
and the extinction of the aninla. heat the
tissues lose this power Of protective re-
siStance new conditions ensue and new
forces come into control.
The alimentary canal is. Throughout. its
entire tract of eight or ten Yards, a con-
tinuous chemical workshop. in waich
macerations, solutions, Questions iecJm-
positions and absorptions follow in con-
slant succession. In a healthful condition
this marvellous organ selects from the COM
which Is desirable as nutrition, discarding
the decomposing and poisonous residue for
ejectment from the body.
Here, within this canal, jE the midst of
this fermenting and dissolving compound,
Is the home and breeding ground Of the
whole list of fevers and choleras. 1t Is like
a continuous line of fortificati tioas, liable to
constant assault from contact with decay
ing substances, and from the aggressive
force of the poisonous gases. IN its normal
activity 1t Is fully adequate to effective and
successful resistance against sill these var
ious attacks; but the moment The vital
force ceases the whole line Of fortitications
is abandoned. and the enemy comes IN at
Will. Putrefaction spreads without min
drance, and the poisonous gases penetrate
to the farthest limit Of every tissue. men,
brane and fiber.
Like conditions exist and like results en-
sue throughout the entire warm -blood"i
creation. From this 1t is not difficult to de-
fine the position Of "undrawn poultry as
an article of food. With the extinction of
the vital forces the flesh loses, mdee1. all
power OF resistance to communicating in
huences; nevertheless, II kept free from
poisonous exposures. healthful flesh will re-
tain It's perfect sanitary con.il,ion for many
days. or even weeks. But whenever this
dead flesh comes into contact with decay
ing material, such as exists within every
undrawn fowl, contamination begins. But
1t Is alleged that. however true all this
may have been In the past. the Use Of cold
storage has introduced new conditions, by
which undrawn fowl can be kent almost
Indefinitely without essential deteriora ton.
Cold Storage and Decay.
This introduces the main point to which
desire to call the attention of the depart
ment, to wit: That, when In contact with
decaying substances, cold stora re does not
prevent decomposition of the tissues. nor
putrescent transmission, nor the absorption
Of poisonous gases; 1t merely diminishes
the rate-the processes continGe all the
same. Absolute and thorough congeatlun
may be held as virtually putting period
to these chemical transfusions. But cod
storage Is very far from conge!ation, both
in fact and in its results. Chemical action
Is diminished. but not destroyed; decay pro-
ceeds as before. but simply at a slower
pace. and because of this insidio.isness 1t
is all the more to be deprecated and guard
ed against, and all the more becomes 'he
fit subject Of official suspicion and invcsu-
CATION.
An undrawn turkey in open market. in
ordinary weather. will disclose itself to the
senses in no great length of time, because the
decay within the entrais will proceed faster
than the absorption of the noxious gases
but in cold storage the gases may be alb
sorbed as rapidly as generated. and the
whole fowl become permeated whilst giving
no great degree of odor until cooked.
Thus neighbor informs me that on
Christmas he purchased a turkey. in prime
condition so far as could be determined by
ordinary inspection, but which upon the
table was found to have a taint in every
remotest fiber. And another neighbor in
forms me that his Christmas turkey, which
had no signs to its discredit. presented, when
cooked. such an odor of fish that 1t made
their Christmas dinner a mockery. Such
facts illustrate the delightful way in which
undrawn poultry Is preserved for our tables
by means Of cold storage; 1t absorbs not
only its own unhealthful secretions but
those Of everything else which may come in
its way.
The simple fact in the case is that no un-
drawn animal should ever be permitted in
cold storage. either by itself or with other
articles of food. 1t is in the process of becom-
ing a mass of poison of itself throughout.
and is a menace to every particle of flesh
within the compartment. 1t will. perhaps,
be said in extenuation that the amount of
absorption is so small and the effect so i'm
perceptible as to be of no manner of conse-
quence.
As to the amount and degree Of degrada-
tion the food may suffer. I am not now dis
cussing that point. Filth is filth, whether
inside or outside of a turkey. l am not pro-
posing just now to enter upon the question
of how much filth. per pound. the health de-
partment of this District may judge 1t suit
able to allow the poultry dealers to sell us
along with our turkey and chicken.
If I were to allow myself to present any
suggestion to the department, in the prem
ises. should say 1t was the imperative duty
upon this whole miserable und-awn fowl
business-foul. indeed. Should however. the
department deem II better for the health
and safety of the public that the business
should be continued. 1t will perhaps permit
the suggestion that II should. at least be
regulated" If combined with the sale of
Spanish mutton, a good business might be
carried on.
Known Spanish Mutton.
Years ago when the raising of the cele-
brated Merino sheep was a royal monopoly
within the Spanish domain, the slaughter Of
a sheep from any cause was absolutely pro-
hibited. But the he-ders were permitted to-
have for food the carcasses of any that
might die of age, disease or otherwise. This
savory diet gave rise to a soup knewn to the
peasantry, from it's highly appealing quail
ties. as aches and pains SOUP" -ue n.
Taking n hint from this bit of history,
suggest that the undrawn poultry dealers
should have a stall set apart in some portion
of the market where they shall be permitted
to offe- to the public "undrawn poultry"
Spanish mutton" and "Aches and pains
soup" free during the present stringency.
also notice in The Star the complaint that
any regulation of the sale of undrawn fowls
would seriously interfere with the poultry
trade of the city and drive it elsewhere.
Had not this point been raised in the public
prints. should have been unwilling to sup
pose that we had dealer in our market
who had the effrontery to come before the
public for sympathy in the preservation Of