Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-01-09
HOW TO MAKE EGG
TESTS At HOME
State Dairy Commissioner Barney
Tells Housewives how to
Judge Them,

State Dairy Commissioner Barney
has issued valuable article to con-
sumers of eggs, telling how to Judge
age and quality of this important
food product. The article follows:
Zone Of the greatest problems
confronting the enforcement Of the
pure food laws is in regard to eggs
and its Importance is hardly second
to any other class of foods. We
have numerous complaints where
eggs are represented and sold as
strictly fresh eggs when In fact they
have been kept in cold storage for q
considerable length Of time. There
are two sections of the food law
which may be applied to question
OF this kind. First, II the eggs are
wholesome and simply misrepresent-
ed as to age, 1t would be a case of
misbranding under the following
section: II 1t be labeled or brand
ed so as to deceive or mislead the
purchaser Second, in case the eggs
are unwholesome or bad, they would
be adulterated under the following
section. II 1t consists Of the whole
or in part OF a filthy, decomposed or
putrid animal substance In the lat
ter event the adulteration ascertain
! ed and II proper evidence can be
secured as to the sale of the eggs
no trouble is experienced in the en-
forcement Of the law, but in the
case of packed eggs being sold as
eggs or strictly fresh eggs, the prob
| lem is perplexing one.
at has been thought best in this
article to give some tests which may
/ be performed In the home whereby
the consumer may Judge the quality
of the eggs bought. The most COM
mon test Is known as egg Gambling.
/ "A GAMBLER can be made in the
home In very simple manner. Take
a quart tin can or measure: con-
venient size which I have found Is
a two-pound coffee can. Discard
the lid, turn the can upside down
and with the aid of silver dollar
and pencil draw a circle In the cen
4 ter of the bottom Of the can, then
with the aid Of can opener or
!. knife cut, hole the exact size OF
the circle. The average egg meas
|ures about Is inches at its smallest
diameter. This hole will be q little
iov4r III inches In diameter which
I will prevent an ordinary sized egg
from passing through. With this tin
lean and a source Of bright light such
las an electric light bulb or lamp II
lis all the apparatus required. Place
1.-THE egg to be examined inside the
4 can over the hole, keeping the face
as close to the can as possible and
i shut out all side light by the aid Of
!. the two hands. In looking at the
i light OF a fresh egg will have
\ clear, golden yellow appearance
without any dark specks or spots
} AS the eggs become older they viii
4 give a notified appearance varyins
\ from a slight cloudiness to blacl
spots. depending upon the age. 4
rotten egg Is generally so dark 70,
are unable to see any light through
It. with a little experience ant
good judgment person can yer.
satisfactorily Judge the quality o
an egg by this test.
Another test is known as tn
: salt solution test. Perfectly fresl
8 eggs will sink In 10 per cent sal
solution at 70 degrees Fahrenheit
This test is quickly applied and vii
distinguish the fresh egg from on
4 that is even few days old. Their
q are some instances where fresl
9 egg will not sink under these cir
e cumstances but such cases are NO
. numerous enough to be Of any I'm
portance. This test should not b
Q applied to eggs which are intends
for storage AZ It probably impair
: 1.-THE keeping qualities"
Epidemic Attacks Rppey.
9 Rippey. Ia. Jan. 6.-Rippey ha
: been aroused by an epidemic Of scar
) lIet fever which has prevailed 10