The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-02
Putting the Refrig-
orator in q State
of Preparedness

OF prepared neSs
Did your refrigerator como into
the list OF things you gave . good
cleansing and thorough overhaulins
1t house cleaning time, Mrs. House.
wife? II should have, Tor II 10 to be
one Of your greatest allies In de-
Tending your meat and other food
supplies from spoilass. during hot
weather. II u not enough TO wipe
out the interior Of your refrigerator
with cold water occasionally. II
needs no thorough treatment "a
does your Kitchen sink and drain.
cellar and storsrooms. Where you
have . yard. II II . good plan to
have the refrigerator taken out IN
the strong sunlight and left there
until II has BEEN put In tiptop shape.
The lining should be your first con.
sidsration. II may be worn. rusty,
not Q good protection At all. The
interior may never have been clean.
Cd % that every bit OF food has been
scraped from sides and cug from
corners, and shelves removed and
cleaned. That Is why I suggest TAX
ing the refrigerator out into The
strong sunlight. YoI can see into
every crack and crcvice by laying II
on It's back. Fresh paint will clean
and brighten up tie outside. Dirt
may be carried from the outside Ia
the interior OF the refrigerator ~
easily rs II can from . dirty shelf
10 q clean table
But II IL the dra.r of the ice box
tina, II tho vital part. Upon the
waste pipes being kept open SO that
the water is carried of. depends the
success Of YOUR ice box. When the
drain pipe trcomes chokcd, pools OF
water are left standing In the inter,
Tor Of the box. Dampness is condu.
Give to bacterial growth. Fungous
growths sre likely to appear upon
meats or other foods kept In cloeged
refrigerators. On one occasion a
man applied TO the United States
Department OF Agriculture. stating
that o joInt OF beef placed In his
refrigerator had turned "a peculiar
bright red. Upon examination II
wss found that the meat was GOV
ersd with . 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 thcy do not abide In your
refrigerator. wipe II with . dry cloth
every day.
Tn suggesting q few simple pre-
cautions for the housewife who does
not want her supplies TO spoil. the
United States Department Of Agri.
culture says:
"1he temperature Of the average
refrigerator Is higher than most per-
sons suppose, and in those house
holds where regular supply Of ice
Is not obtainable, q cool cellar, a
sprtng house or the depths of a well
may serve somewhat the same pur.
pose ON farms where there II an
ice house. the meat may be placed
In some form OF closed retainer and
buried In the ice. In any event. the
meat must be carefully screened
from flies. The danger from infec.
ton from these pests has been
pointed out many times. but famil.
iarity breeds contempt and they still
persist. The ny not only does the
meat itself no good but II may
readily deposit upon It some infec-
ton, which Is carried in turn by the
meat into the human system. Some
Aies will deposit their eggs OH the
meat and these In a short time will
become maggots and the meat Is
'ny-blown.'
much sickness that In popularity
ascribed TO ptomaine poisoning or
to bad food In general Ia really
caused In some such way AS this, the
food. in itself perfectly wholesome,
acting merely ~ a mechanical car
rfer for the germs which cause the
trouble. Filth may be carried by
dust, but Is more often from soiled
hands. One might wish that every
kitchen could have the sign found
IN some well-mapsged food factories
when you leave the room for any
purpose, wash your hands before
you return to work
sOerms which grow IN foods and
cause illness grow very rapidly. par.
ticuiarly II the food 10 . little warm,
and are not destroyed unless the
food u well cooked before serving.
simpiy warming up II not snoush.
@ vas found u . case Of illness ~
Gently reported after eating some
warned up ersAmed vegetables.
Certain kinds Of Sood-crssmed
chicken. or custard, or warm vege-
tables, for exampls--ar0 excellent
culture mediums for bacteria which
- Nsv> A>>0 t0tVoAssNnd iAtA them