BODY TEMPERATURE. 249 



the end of three weeks, 96.8° F. It is quite clear from an inspection 

 of the individual values that this is a positive reduction in tempera- 

 ture which was not found with Squad A, although the absence of 

 true normal values for the latter squad complicates the comparison. 

 Furthermore, the absolute minimum value of '96.8° F. on the last day 

 (January 28) is perceptibly lower than the average minimum found 

 with Squad A on February 3, that is, 96.8° F. against 97.4° F. The 

 only explanation that one can offer for this difference is the fact that 

 Squad B, during the month of January, was on an extraordinarily 

 reduced diet, containing but approximately 1,400 net calories, or a 

 Uttle more than one-third of the calories in the maintenance diet 

 previous to restriction. 



It is conceivable, therefore, that with so low a diet a slight reduc- 

 tion in temperature may have resulted. This is somewhat in con- 

 formity with the experience of this Laboratory with the man under- 

 going prolonged fasting,^ when it was found that the average rectal 

 temperature throughout the night was somewhat lower at the end of 

 the prolonged fast than at the beginning. This lowering of tempera- 

 ture was likewise observed with this man in the record made at 7 a.m., 

 the temperature being a few tenths of a degree higher at the beginning 

 of the fast than at the end. It would, therefore, appear that with 

 Squad B pronounced undernutrition affected the body temperature 

 slightly, although the fact that so large a reduction in diet (amount- 

 ing to nearly two-thirds of the previous requirement) had no greater 

 effect upon this important body function is somewhat remarkable. 

 Since the rectal temperatures were so slightly affected, it is not 

 surprising that no appreciable alteration in the mouth temperature 

 could be noted as the experiment progressed. 



SKIN TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS. 

 The feeling of cold experienced by nearly every member of the 

 squad, causing discomfort in many instances, led us to believe that 

 there might possibly be a very considerable difference in skin tem- 

 perature. The fact that there was a distinctly lower heat production 

 suggests a lower skin temperature. Thep ronounced decrease in pulse- 

 rate might also lead one to expect lower skin temperatures. The 

 measurement of skin temperature has been found difficult, but it is 

 believed that the method outlined in an earher section (page 78) gave 

 an approximate index of the skin temperature which, if not absolutely 

 reUable, should at least permit comparative measurements from week 

 to week. The control observations made with those not on diet also 

 give a suggestion as to whether the surface temperatures of the squad 

 on diet were, on the whole, lower or higher than those of normal indi- 

 viduals. Here, again, the number of control individuals was altogether 



1 Benedict, Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pub. No. 203, 1915, p. 95. 



