June, 1919] Use of Chicks in Vitamine Tests 513 



No deaths occurred in the normal group while 33% of the 

 test chicks died. The apparent rapid rise in the curve on March 

 28th is due to the death of the smallest and feeblest chick which 

 of course resulted in the rise of the average weight of the lot. 

 A second chick died on March 31st and the remainder were in 

 such condition that it was deemed advisable to prevent death 

 if possible by feeding food containing vitamines. Incidentally 

 it is worthy of note that the chicks die very promptly after the 

 appearance of the symptoms of vitamine deficiency, such as the 

 semi-paralysis, refusal to eat, progressive loss of weight, etc. 

 By partially forced feeding the chicks were given small amounts 

 of scraped apple, milk, lettuce, etc. — the result is clearly shown 

 in the graph — April 1st to 4th — the growth rate actually exceed- 

 ing that of the controls, although the amount of added nutritive 

 material could not have been responsible, being entirely too 

 small in amount. With the addition of the vitamines to the 

 diet the test chicks at once began to eat larger amounts of the 

 hopper feed than previously, the droopy appearance disap- 

 peared and they gave the appearance of merely undersized or 

 stunted chicks. 



On April 4th the use of the vitamine containing food was 

 again discontinued — the result of further experimentation is 

 yet to be determined. While it is recognized that no new results 

 have been obtained by the use of the chicks it was thought that 

 the very satisfactory demonstration secured was worthy of 

 note at this time, since they apparently lend themselves so 

 happily to laboratory experiment with a minimum of expense 

 and trouble in their care. 



