Energy and Gaseous Metabolism of Normal and Deutectomized Chicks between 10 Hours and 100 Hours of Age

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Abstract
Heat production and gaseous exchage were determined for normal and deutectomized chicks of both sexes for the period from 10 to 100 hours of age by direct calorimetry. Chicks were studied at temperatures from 68 to 104°F., inclusive. The temperature of environment showed a decided effect on the metabolism. The chicks displayed a critical temperature at 96°F. Seven degrees increase or decrease from the critical temperature caused about 15 per cent increase in metabolism. With decrease in temperature from 96 to 70°F., metabolism increased in proportion to environmental temperature until at 70°F. the energy output was twice as great as at 96°F. The chick was unable to compensate for temperatures below 70°. Neither appreciable nor consistent differences were found between chicks of the two sexes at any temperature studied. The R. Q. observed was about 0.71 and the T. Q., calculated from CO2, 3.16, which indicates a metabolism free of carbohydrate. The gram hour rate of metabolism for normal chicks is constant at any given temperature within the physiological range for the age period studied. The gram hour rate for deutectomized chicks decreased continuously and in direct proportion to time elapsed after operation.
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