Impairment of the chick's grip and balance by streptomycin. A preliminary study.

Chicks were injected daily with streptomycin (400 or 1,200 mg/kg). Damage to the vestibular apparatus was accompanied by steadily impaired abilities of chicks to tighten their grips as evidenced by reduced torque and by slippage of their feet on the perch. As compensation, intoxicated chicks adjusted their footing with cautious, deliberate movements. They always stood erectly and stiffly on the perch; they were unable to roost. They also experienced difficulties in balancing. While symptoms were qualitatively similar at both dosages, their onset came earlier and with greater severity at 1,200 mg/kg. Control chicks steadily increased their torque and displayed normal balance during the course of the experiment.