68 



TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE HUMAN BODY. 



Experiment of March 2, 1911, with F. A. R. The deep and shallow rectal 

 thermometers were used, with an insertion of 12 centimeters and 8.5 centi- 

 meters respectively, and two thermometers in the hand, one in the center of 

 the palms and one at the base of the second finger, the cavity between the 

 hands having been previously heated with a hot-water bottle at a temperature 

 of 42 C. Intermittent observations were also made of the mouth tempera- 

 ture. As in previous experiments, the hands were closety clasped, tied with 

 cloth bandages, and covered with a pile of loose pieces of cloth. The arms 

 were bound together above the elbows, as usual, to prevent the spreading 

 apart of the wrists. At 8 h 58 m a. m. one of the hand thermal junctions was 

 inserted a little farther toward the center of the hand. To test the effect of 

 hot and cold drinks, the subject was given cold water at 9 h 48 m a. m. and a 

 cupful of hot coffee at ll h 08 m a. m. 



37.6 C 



37.4 



37.2 



37.0 



36.8 



36.6 



36.4- 



36.2 



8.30 A.M. 8.S0 



9.10 



9.30 



9.50 



10.10 



10.30 10.50 



11.10 



11.30 



11.50 12.10 RM. 



Fig. 35. Temperature curves for experiment of March 2, 1911, with F. A. R. 9.48 a. m., drinking 



cold water; 11.08 a. m., drinking hot coffee. 



In a general way the curve for the thermometer in the middle of the hand 

 follows the curve for the rectal thermometer, although in the latter part of the 

 experiment the rise in temperature is not so noticeable as in the curve for the 

 rectal thermometer. While the temperature curve for the thermometer at 

 the base of the second finger shows wide variations, nevertheless the general 

 tendency is not far from that shown in the curve for the thermometer in the 

 middle of the palms. The temperatures taken in the mouth are very irregular 

 and it is impossible to draw any deductions from the observations in this cavity. 

 Just after taking hot coffee, a slight rise may be noted in all of the temperature 

 curves, but the cold water appeared to have no effect. 



The curves showing the measurement of the body-temperature may be 

 found in fig. 35. 



Experiment of March 3, 1911, with F. G. B. In this experiment, the shallow 

 and deep rectal thermometers were used, a thermometer in the left axilla, 

 and one in the mouth. Before inserting the thermometer in the left axilla, 



