72 TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE HUMAN BODY. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



From this series of temperature observations made on a number of different 

 subjects, certain definite conclusions have been drawn: 



1. When two thermc meters are placed in one internal cavity at not less than 

 6 centimeters deep, the temperature curves are parallel and approximately 

 equal. This is shown in figs. 15, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 

 and 38, but certain abnormalities not easily explainable are seen in figs. 26 

 and 37. 



2. When two thermometers are placeel in one internal cavity and the dis- 

 tance between them is 3.5 centimeters, one being within 5 centimeters of the 

 surface of the body, the curves obtained are parallel, but not equal in value, 

 thus indicating a temperature gradient. See figs. 17, 19, 24, and 28. 



3. Thermometers placed in the rectum and the vagina, at depths of at 

 least 6 centimeters, show curves that are parallel and approximately equal. 

 See figs. 16, 18, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, and 32. 



4. Thermometers in the right and left axillas give curves that are parallel, 

 showing approximately equal temperatures. This is indicated in figs. 15, 17, 

 and a part of 19, also in 20 and 26. Exceptions to this are shown in figs. 18, 

 27, and 28, but in considering these exceptions one must not lose sight of the fact 

 that it is very difficult to secure constant and well-closed axillas undisturbed 

 by body movements; we have every reason to believe that the conflicting 

 results in these three curves are due to misplaced thermometers. 



5. Two thermometers placed in the groin give results that are parallel and 

 approximately equal. This is shown in fig. 24. 



6. Two thermometers placed in the hand give results that are equal and 

 parallel. See figs. 21, 22, and 23. In fig. 35, the curves are parallel but not 

 equal, indicating a slight gradient. 



7. The use of the hot-water bottle hastens the warming-up of such artificial 

 cavities in the body as the axilla, groin, and hand. This fact is shown in figs. 

 19, 20, and 22, and in parts of 31, 32, and 33, also in 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38. 



8. When lying on a couch after the slight muscular work involved in coming 

 to the laboratory and moving about before the experiment, there is usually an 

 initial fall of internal temperature. This is clear^ evident in figs. 15, 19, 20, 

 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 36, and 37, but not so well shown in figs. 17, 

 18, 25, 29, 30, and 35, and is entirely absent in figs. 16, 31, 32, and 38. 



9. Temperatures taken in the mouth are in general extremely irregular and 

 unsatisfactory, as may be seen in figs. 28, 29, 30, part of 31, and 32, also in 

 fig. 35. Nevertheless fair results are shown in figs. 27, 33, and 34, and very 

 satisfactory results in figs. 36 and 38. 



10. The effect of eating a meal tends to increase somewhat the temperature 

 of the body. See figs. 17, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34. 



11. On exposing portions of the skin under the conditions of the experiments 

 here made, no effect on bocty-temperature was apparent in figs. 26 and 27. 



