INTRODUCTION. 5 



subjects under similar conditions, the vagina is also an admirable place for 

 making temperature observations. 



Rectum. In taking the temperature in the rectum, it is of prime importance 

 first to note that the thermometer should not be imbedded in fecal matter, as 

 otherwise there may be a sluggishness in the records. This is particularly 

 necessary with glass clinical thermometers, which are sufficiently rigid to 

 become easily imbedded in a mass of fecal matter. Again, the thermometer 

 must be inserted deep enough in the rectum to make sure that the record is 

 not affected by the temperature of the outside air. This latter point will 

 receive special consideration later. 



Mouth. In the private practice of a physician, the rectum and the vagina 

 are practically precluded in the majority of instances and recourse is had to 

 taking the temperature in the mouth. While it is true that the cavity in the 

 mouth underneath the tongue is surrounded by living tissue and protected, 

 at least in part, from the external environmental temperature, nevertheless 

 the cold air from the nasal passages, the freo.uent breathing through the mouth, 

 and the rapid vaporization of water by the relatively dry air entering the mouth 

 usually produce a supercooling of this cavity. This supercooling may be very 

 noticeable, particularly after severe exercise. 1 



Stomach. The stomach has been rarely used in measuring body-tempera- 

 ture, since it is somewhat difficult for subjects to swallow a stomach tube with 

 any degree of comfort. While there are relatively few instances in which a 

 fistula has been employed for such measurements, a most interesting series of 

 observations has been made on the temperature in the stomach during diges- 

 tion, beginning with the early experiments of William Beaumont 2 on Alexis 

 St. Martin, and continuing with the more recent experiments of Rancken and 

 Tigerstedt. 3 Under ordinary conditions, however, it is practically impossible 

 to measure the temperature in this way. 



Bladder. So far as we know, no records of the body-temperature have been 

 taken in the bladder by means of a thermometer inserted through a catheter; 

 nevertheless, mention should be made of the extremely ingenious method first 

 suggested by Stephen Hales 4 of measuring the temperature of freshly voided 

 urine which represents very nearly the temperature of the interior of the body. 

 In such observations it is evident that the time during which the temperature 

 can be taken is relatively short, depending upon the volume of urine passed. 

 Furthermore, the thermometers used should be very sensitive and should first 

 be warmed by the hand or in the mouth to nearly the temperature of the body 

 before placing the bulb in the stream of urine. 



Williams and Arnold: Phila. Med. Journ., 3, p. 1233. 



2 Beaumont, Experiments and observations on the gastric juice and the physiology of 

 digestion, Plattsburgh, 1833. 



3 Rancken and Tigerstedt, Biochem. Zeitsch., 190S, 11, p. 3G. 

 'Hales, Statical Essays, London, 1731, 2d ed., 1, p. 59. 



