The Effect of Certain Dietary Factors on Gastric Hydrogen Ion Concentration and Acidity in the Domestic Fowl

THE hydrogen ion concentration in the gizzard of the domestic fowl has been studied by McLaughlin (1931) and the author (1942). In these studies the experimental birds were killed and fluid removed from the gizzards for determinations. This same procedure was used by Heller and Penquite (1936) and Mussehl, Blish, and Ackerson (1933) in studying the effect of dietary factors on gastric pH. In the latter investigation the additions of cod liver oil, NaHCO3, NH4 Cl, starch, dextrin, sucrose, or lactose were found to affect the gastric pH. Heller and Penquite (1936) revealed that the gastric hydrogen ion concentration could be reduced by the addition to the basic diet of 10 percent Ca(OH)2, 10 percent CaCO3, 5 percent Na2 HPO4, 20 percent lard, 10 percent Cad2, SO percent cotton seed, SO percent milk, or 25 percent tankage. In a more recent series of experiments the author (1943) demonstrated that fluid removed from . . .