DISCUSSION OF liESl 1/1 S. 



39 



centimeters was 35.80 C, and at 8 centimeters 37.03 C. No material differ- 

 ences were noted between 6 and 8 centimeters. As usual the gradient rose 

 very sharply up to a depth of 6 centimeters, after which the temperature 

 remained practically constant. 



The records for a third experiment with the woman subject are given in fig. 

 13; in this experiment a single thermometer was used in the vagina and a 

 double thermometer in the rectum. The temperature rose very rapidly until 

 about 5 centimeters was reached ; afterwards it remained essentially constant 

 for the remaining distance between 5 and 10 centimeters, beyond which point 

 it was not studied. The temperature at 2 centimeters was about 36.8 C. and 

 at 10 centimeters 37.3 C, showing a difference of approximately 0.5 C. 



374 C 



37.2 



UJ 



D 



en 



UJ 



o. 



u 



h 



37 



36.8 



36.6 



36.4- 



10 CMS. 



Fig. 13. Observations on thermal gradient, with Mrs. B 1. 

 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS WITH REGARD TO THE THERMAL GRADIENT. 



It is apparent, therefore, that the thermal gradient between the temperature 

 at the surface of the body and at a depth of about 5 centimeters is quite notice- 

 able; evidently beyond 5 centimeters the body-temperature is essentially at 

 its maximum. It has been neither disproved nor shown by this study, of 

 course, that the temperature may not be actually higher in the liver or in some 

 other active organs of the body; indeed, it is to be expected that where there is 

 special metabolic activity, as in the liver and other glands, there might be a 

 somewhat higher temperature. On the other hand, Rancken and Tigerstedt, 1 

 who found that ordinarily the temperature in the stomach was about 0.1 C. 

 higher than that in the rectum, were unable to note any rise in temperature 

 during the first hour of active digestion, except such as was due to the heat of 

 the food. However, in finding the average temperature of the human body, 

 it appears safe to say that the temperature rises to its highest point at a depth 

 of 6 to 7 centimeters. 



'Rancken and Tigerstedt, Biochem. Zeitsch., 1C08, 11, p. 36. 



