46 



TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE HUMAN BODY. 



limited an amount of exercise as would be incidental to coming to the labora- 

 tory. The length of time required to raise the temperature in the axilla to 

 constancy was from 20 to 30 minutes; when constancy had been assured, the 

 axillas were opened and cooled for a short time, and the thermometers again 

 inserted. 



The two axillas had about the same temperature curve, and in a general way 

 the fluctuations followed those in the rectum; the records of the axilla ther- 

 mometers were, however, lower than those of either the shallow or the deep 

 rectal thermometer. 



The results of the measurements are shown in fig. 15, in which the curves 

 are marked as previously indicated. 



37.2C 



37 



36.8 



36.6 



36.4 



36.2 



36.0 



3S.8 



356 



8.30A.M. 8.50 9.10 930 9.50 10.10 10.30 10.50 



Fig. 15. Temperature curves for experiment of January 6, 1911, with C. H. H. 



Experiment of January 6, 1911, with Mrs. B I. This experiment was made 

 primarily to test the feasibility of obtaining the body-temperature of women. 

 The subject came to the laboratory after the noon meal and immediately lay 

 down upon the couch. A single thermometer was inserted in the rectum to 

 a depth of 7 centimeters and a second thermometer in the vagina. A ther- 

 mometer was also placed in the right axilla, the subject lying on the same side 

 to keep the cavity closed. No special bandages were used. In addition, a 

 fourth thermometer was placed under the breast, with the breast folded over 

 it as much as possible and kept in place by a bandage. At 4 h 23 m p. m., the 

 thermometer was removed from under the breast and placed in the groin; the 

 axilla was also opened at this time, and the thermometer replaced in the cavity 

 at 4 h 34 m p. m. The curves for the rectum and the vagina had agreed remark- 

 ably well until this time, but during the change the vaginal thermometer was 

 accidentally moved out of position and the temperature record changed to a 

 level a little over 0.5 C. below the original. After the vaginal thermometer 



