The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-03
Putting the Refrig-
orator in q State
of Preparedness

~ A&k$SA VIZ
Did your refrigerator come into
the list OF things you gave a good
cleansing and thorough overhauiing.
at house cleaning time. Mrs. House
vile? II should have, for II Is TO be
one of your greatest allies In de-
tending your meat and other food
supplies from spoilage. during hot
weather. II is not enough to wipe
out the interior OF your refrigerator
with cold water occasionally. II
needs al thorough treatment as
does your kitchen sink and drain,
cellar and storerooms. Where you
have q yard. II Is a good plan 10
have the refrigerator taken out In
the strong sunlight and left there
until II has been put In uptop shape.
The lining should be your first con-
sideration. II may be worn, rusty.
not good protection az all. The
interior may never have been clean
I'd 20 that every bit OF food has been
Bcraped from sides and Cug from
corners, and shelves removed and
cleaned. That is why I suggest TAX.
ing the refrigerator out into the
Dtrong sunlight Yol can See into
every crack and crcvioe by laying II
on It's back. Fresh paint will clean
and brighten up the outside. Dirt
may be carried from The outside TO
the int rior OF the refrigerator as
easily as II can from a dirty shelf
10 q clean table
But II is the dra.p Of the ice box
that Is the vital part. Upon thS
waste pipes being kept open4S0 that
the water IL carried of. depends the
success OF your ice box. When the
drain pipe becomes chokcd. pools OF
water arc left standing in The inter.
Tor OF the box. Dampness Is condu-
Give to bacterial growth. Fungous
grOwths are likely to appear upon
meats or other foods kept in clogged
refrfgerators. On one occasion n
man applied to the United States
Department OF Agriculture. stating
that joint OF beef placed in his
Refrigerator had turned peculiar
bright red. Upon examination II
was found that the meat was Gov
cred with a peculiar fungus growth
due entirely to the condition OF the
Refrigerator. All fungus growth do
not manifest themselves in such
bright coiors. Many are scarcely
visible TO the naked eye. To make
certain they do not abide in your
Refrigerator. wipe 1t With dry cloth
every day.
In suggesting few simple pre-.
cautions sor the housewife who does
not want her supplies 10 spoil, the
United States Department OF Agri-
culture says:
"1'he temperature of tho average
Refrigerator Is higher than most per
sons suppose. and In those house.
holds where n regular supply OF Ice
ID not obtainable, a cool cellar, a
spring house or the depths Of a weii
may serve somewhat the same pur-
bose ON farms where there is an
ico house. the meat may be placed
In some form Of closed retainer and
buried in the ice. I'm any event. the
meat must be carefully screened
from flies. The danger from infec-
tion from these pests has been
pointed out many times. but famil-
tarity breeds contempt and they still
PERSIST. The fly not only does the
meat itself no good but II may
readily deposit upon II some infec-
hon, which is carried In turn by the
meat into the human system. Some
Mes will deposit their eggs on the
meat and these in a short time viii
become maggots and the meat is
rny-blown.'
"Mucn sickness that is popularity
Inscribed tn ptomaine poisoning or
10 bad food in general is really
Duoeed in some such way ne this, the
food. in itself perfectly wholesome,
letting merely IA mechanical car.
rier for the germs which cause the
krouble. Filth may be carried by
duet, but Is more often from soiled
00OQb. Ou' "toh 'h"N N'Fiy
Kitchen could have the sign found
N some well.managed food factories
Ewhen you leave the room for any
purpose, wash your hands before
AUd return t. work
"0erms which grow In foods and
ause illness grow very rapidly. par
REGULARLY II the food ;s little warm,
and are not destroyed unless the
food is well cooked before serving.
9imply warming up Is not enough,
- was found IN a case of illness re-
Gently reported after eating some
warmed UP creamcd vegetables.
Certain kinds OF food-crcamed
chicken, or oustnrd, or warm vege-
tables. for example--are excellent
culture mediums for bacteria which
nee have bacn introduced into them