Synergistic relationship of temperature, air, velocity, and mercury in the chicken

Juvenile chickens that had previously received mercuric chloride intramuscularly were subjected to an acute exposure of high ambient temperature in the presence or absence of a 140 mpm air velocity. This level of mercury did not retard growth of affect the resting body temperature. However, following heating the birds experienced a greater hyperthermia than similarly heated controls and consequently thermal death occurred earlier. When a high air velocity was maintained during heating the hyperthermic condition was further amplified, as was the event of thermal death. It is concluded that a synergistic relationship exists between mercury, when administered at a nontoxic level, and the climatic factors of temperature and air velocity.