THE EFFECTS OF SELECTIVE SOLAR IRRADIATION ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHICKS

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Abstract
Chicks were grown under 4 types of filters: vitaglass, ordinary window glass, amber, and blue glass. The standard Wisconsin all-mash ration was fed: to the feed of 1/2 of the chicks under each filter 2% of cod-liver oil was added. The rate of growth was not affected by the character of the radiant energy transmitted by the filters during the first 2 mo.; a decided decrease in average weight was found at the end of 6 mo. in the chicks housed behind blue and amber glass and without cod-liver oil. The addition of 2% cod-liver oil to the standard diet gave an average weight at the end of 6 mo. practically the same irrespective of the light filter used. Evidence shows that normal growth and development are dependent on the visible as well as the ultra-violet portions of solar irradiation, all other factors remaining constant. Average weights under various light filters are correlated with data on hyperplasia or normalcy of the parathyroids. Hyperplasia, as evidenced under amber and blue glass, substantiates the hypothesis that this overdevelopment occurs in the interest of maintaining normal growth and development.

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