A NOTABLE EXPERIMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10067, 13 June 1910, Page 4

A NOTABLE EXPERIMENT.

The return of the liner Marathon, which carried the first, successful shipment of be from Australia chilled under the new process, afforded an opportunity of learning some idea oS the success of the enterprise. The process is highly interesting. Aftex the beef has been properly sterilised, it is placed in the bold of the vessel by men wearing specially sterilised clothes, [so 'as to prevent any possible baterial contagion. The hold has been disinfected by means of gaseous formaldehyde, and after the carcases have been hung on the hooks gas is again passed through, and the temperature loweied to 301 degrees Pahr. Every effort is made to keep the temperature at this figure during the voyage. All air which enters the chamber is dried and purified, ard the air in the chamber is thoroughly dried every twenty-four hoars. The question may be raised as to why the meat is not frozen, and all the danger from bacteria thus dispensed with. The answer is supplied in an article appearing in the Sydney Morning Herald. "Freezing breaks the tissue of the meat, and when it is thawed out it is sloppy and lifeless." An officer of the Marathon says:—"l bought some of the beef in a shop the day after we discharged it, and better beef I never tasted." Of course, the condition of the meat was not perfect; for instance, the authorities stated that too much disinfectant was used, but no insurmountable difficulties have been met with, and the experience gained by this shipment should ensure the next one arriving in faultless condition.