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The Growth Curve of the Albino Rat in Relation to Diet

Four Figures

Department of Pathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York

1. The growth of rats on present-day good stock diets is characterized by a progressive decrease in gain for each successive time interval after weaning.

2. Such data can be conveniently plotted as a straight line if the logarithm of the weight and the reciprocal of time are used as coordinates. The formula is:
These findings are corroborated by numerous data of other investigators.

3. Neither natural variation in size of the animal nor artificial stimulation of growth rate causes a deviation from the empirical formula of growth. While inherent size of rats varies considerably, the slope of the plot (k of the formula) varies but little for each sex in albino rats. In all cases where data for males and females are available, the ratio of k for males and k for females is constant within 3%.

4. Deviations on diets suboptimal for growth are discussed.