Investigations into the conditions governing tlie temperature of the bod}'. 37 



on the sledge, sitting on it and running behind by turns. Sitting 

 on the sledge one felt cold by and by and stiff in the joints; accor- 

 ding to experience the rectal temperature sinks under such condi- 

 tions after previous exercise; but it was only now and then that the 

 dismal white spots appeared on the face. But on running behind 

 the sledge, which was very tiring in travelling dress and produced 

 a considerable hyperpnoe and after a short time strong perspiration 

 in spite of the low temperature, frost-bites appeared almost imme- 

 diately on the nostrils, probably because a considerably greater 

 quantity of the dry, cold air was passing through the nose while 

 running, the rate of progression being continually the same. 



Physiologically the temperature taken in the axilla undoub- 

 tedly belongs to skin temperature. The measurements which have 

 been made to show that the axillary temperature is constant in 

 relation to the rectal temperature cannot be used, no regard what- 

 ever having been paid to the possibility, that the axillary tempera- 

 ture might be dependent on the surrounding temperature. 



Thus, Erlandsen ^ has recently found, by means of a long series 

 of measurements, that the axillary temperature is on an average 

 05° lower than the rectal temperature, the difference varying indeed 

 individually but being invariable in the same person. The fluctua- 

 tions are, however, very great; the author himself states that the 

 single differences may be or even change sign, so that the con- 

 stancy is not at all apparent. Add to this that Erlandsen in a se- 

 cond series of measurements, Avhere he has undressed his patients 

 and placed them under blankets, comes to higher and less variable 

 axilla temperatures; just as was to be expected when dealing with 

 a local temperature which varies with the air temperature. 



In his researches on the skin temperature Oehler^ has not taken 

 the axillary temperature into account; but in his opinion there is a 

 connection between the axilla and skin temperature; this appears 

 indeed from his measurements. The numbers below are taken from 

 Oehler's tables. 



5 readings in 5 individ. 



— - 7 — 

 - 12 — 



— - 5 - 



_ 9 



1 Hospitalstidende No. 48, 1908 



2 1. с 



