The Occurrence in Chicks of a Paralysis of Nutritive Origin

In a recent report by Norris, Heuser and Wilgus1 attention was called to the occurrence of a peculiar paralysis in chicks, involving the legs and feet. The cause of this paralysis appeared to be of nutritive origin as it was obtained by feeding a semi-synthetic ration containing commercial casein, and prevented by supplementing this ration with a vitamin concentrate from milk. It was suggested, therefore, that milk contains a hitherto unrecognized factor, vitamin in nature, essential for the prevention of this paralysis. Hart, Kletzien, Scott and Halpin2 took exception to this report, stating that they had frequently obtained paralysis in chicks in their laboratory during the past five years apparently identical in symptoms to those obtained by Norris, Heuser and Wilgus on rations which contained liberal quantities of liquid milk or skimmilk powder. These investigators concluded that, if the symptoms are identical, “it is impossible to accept the conclusion of . . .