The post mortem diagnosis of fatal hypoglycaemia using the fatty liver and kidney syndrome of chicks as a model.

1. The concentrations of vitreous humour and plasma glucose were closely correlated in both healthy and fatty liver and kidney syndrome-affected chicks at time of death. 2. The values of vitreous humour glucose and lactate decreased rapidly after death, such that they were not reliable indicators of the presence of hypoglycaemia immediately ante mortem. 3. Hepatic glycogen was extremely low in fatty liver and kidney syndrome-affected birds, whereas significant quantities remained in healthy birds up to at least 24 h post mortem.