March, 1953] D. P. MUKHERJEE, S. S. JAWA AND P. BHATTACHARYA 23
In the experimental group, it has been found that during the combined variations
in air temperature, relative humidity and rainfall, it was the air temperature which
was comparatively the most important cause of variations in both pulse and respira-
tion rates. The partial correlation coefficients between pulse rate and atmospheric
factors in this group suggest that not a single atmospheric factor played any signi-
ficant role on pulse rate when the other two factors were held constant. Rate of
respiration on the other hand was influenced by air temperature and humidity. An
increase in air temperature increased the rate of respiration (partial correlation
coefficient being +0.727) and increase in relative humidity decreased the rate of
respiration (partial correlation coefficient being —0.579). The results may perhaps
be explained as follows:
Feeding of thyroprotein to the animals had already increased the pulse rate to such
an extent that the effect of atmospheric factors, when considered separately, was
only insignificant. That the rate of respiration was variable with the changes in air
temperature and humidity may be due to the fact that the rate of respiration is the
most sensitive physiological mechanism in the animal body which responds to any
minute fluctuation in the atmospheric condition. Increase in air temperature
decreased the relative humidity and increased the rate of respiration and vice versa.
It is obvious, therefore, that the rate of respiration being a sensitive physiological
mechanism was working in regulating the body temperature of the animals. The
body temperature was already increased and maintained at a higher level by the
administration of thyroprotein. Any additional increase in body temperature due to
environment was prevented by the changes in respiration. This may be the expla-
nation for the insignificant partial correlation coefficients obtained between the
atmospheric factors and body temperature of the experimental group as well.
SUMMARY
Thyroprotein feeding increased pulse rate, respiration rate and body temperature
but decreased the body weight of goats.
Highly significant negative partial correlation coefficients between relative
humidity and pulse and respiration rates (air temperature and rainfall held constant)
were obtained in the control group.
Highly significant positive partial correlation coefficient between air temperature
and the rate of respiration and significant negative partial correlation coefficient
between relative humidity and rate of respiration were obtained in the treated groups.
Changes in air temperature, humidity and rainfall when studied independently
had little effect on the pulse rate of the treated group.
Body temperature of the animals in both the groups was uninfluenced by changes
in atmospheric factors.
Variations in rainfall independent of relative humidity and air temperature
had no significant effect on pulse and respiration rates and body temperature of the
animals in both the groups.
Multiple regression equations for pulse rates indicate that in the control group
one degree change in air temperature caused two times and four times as much
change in the pulse rate as was due to one per cent change in relative humidity of one