The Effect of Manganese, Zinc, Aluminum, and Iron Salts on the Incidence of Perosis in Chicks

Abstract

PEROSIS, also known as slipped tendon or hock disease, is a leg disorder of young growing chicks, characterized by a bowing of the leg at the tibia, metatarsal joint, enlargement with a tendency toward flattening of the joint, and finally slipping of the Achilles tendon from its normal position. Since several articles containing references to this subject have appeared recently, attention will be called in this paper only to those having a direct bearing on the phase of the subject treated herein.Van der Hoorn, Branion, and Graham (1938), found that manganese was necessary for good growth and livability, but that excessive amounts were harmful. Using purified diets, these workers encountered a leg abnormality, presumably perosis, which was prevented by manganese.Wilgus, Norris, and Heuser (1937a) reported that a technical grade of monocalcium phosphate prevented slipped tendon, but that preventive action was due to some contaminating material presumably inorganic in .