PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS VS. SUPPLY. 



119 



had an average rectal temperature during the first 12 hours of 36.7 C. 

 (98.1 F.) and during the last 12 hours 26 infants had an average tem- 

 perature of 36.9 C. (98.4 F.). The average rectal temperature for 

 the infants studied on the first day after birth was 36.8 C. (98.2 F.), 

 on the second day 37.1 C. (98.8 F.), on the third day 37.2 C. (99.0 

 F.), on the fourth day 37.0 C. (98.6 F.), and on the fifth day 36.9 C. 

 (98.5 F.). While admittedly the records for the sixth, seventh, and 

 eighth days were obtained with relatively few infants, the average 

 results approximate those for the days immediately preceding, being 

 37.0 C. (98.6 F.). It is perfectly clear from these data, therefore, 

 that the average rectal temperature of infants on the first day after 

 birth is at least 0.3 C. (0.6 F.) lower than on the second day. This 

 observation, taken in connection with the fact that the infants during 

 the first 12 hours had a slightly lower temperature than those studied 

 during the last 12 hours, would imply that the temperature gradually 

 increased from the first to the third day, and, indeed, even during the 

 first day, or that it was lowered during the first day by the bath. 



TABLE 



20. Average rectal temperature of infants during first 8 days after birth. 



With one infant the rectal temperature was recorded at short inter- 

 vals for about 5 hours, beginning 1 hour after birth. Oiling and a 

 bath preceded the observations in the respiration chamber. During 

 this preliminary care the child was inadvertently subjected in the 

 hospital to a longer exposure than usual and the temperature of the 

 room was also lower than had been customary. 1 The records of the 

 rectal temperature are given in table 21, those while the infant was in 

 the respiration chamber beginning with 4 h 56 m p. m. While the rectal 

 temperatures were being taken in the chamber there was necessarily 

 the same slight exposure which is customary when such temperature 

 records are made in the hospital, but great care was taken to keep the 

 infant well wrapped up at these times. 



From the records in table 21 it will be seen that the rectal tempera- 

 ture rose steadily and somewhat rapidly throughout the entire period. 

 It is not possible, however, to average these values with the tempera- 

 ture records obtained with the other infants, for in the majority of 



J The temperature of the room was 71 F., while usually it is 80 F. or more. 



