An Account of some Experiments on Animal Heat. 457 



rectum was first ascertained, as a means of marking the rate of 

 cooling, and the different parts were then tried in the following 

 order : 



Venous blood in the jugular vein 105-5 



Arterial blood from the carotid artery .... 107 



Rectum 105-5 



Over the metatarsal bone 97 



Over the tarsal bone 90 



Over the knee joint 102 



About the head of the thigh 103 



At the groin 104 



Nearly a quarter of an hour had been occupied in making 

 these observations, and the temperature of the rectum was nowr 

 found to be 105. The three great cavities were next opened iu 

 the order enumerated. 



Near the lower part of the liver 106 



The substance of the liver 106'5 



The substance of the lung 106*5 



The left ventricle 107 



The right ventricle 106 



The central substance of the brain 104 



Rectum 104-5 



Surprised at the temperature of the brain being lower than 

 that of the rectum, I was led to repeat the experiment. It may 

 be proper to notice a few of the results, as it is a curious cir- 

 cumstance which they confirm. The four experiments I shall 

 mention were made on lambs. As soon as the animal was dead, 

 the cranium was perforated, and a delicate thermometer intro- 

 <luced into the central part of the brain. 



1. Brain 104 Rectum 10475 



2. Brain 10475 Rectum 105-5 



3. Brain 105-5 Rectum 106-5 



4. Posterior part of the brain 105-5 j anterior 103. 

 Re tum lOG-5. 



The temperature of the air at the time was 68. Different 

 parts of the brain were found to vary considerably in temperature; 

 the anterior, as already noticed, being lower than the posterior, 

 and the superficial than the deep-seated parts. 



3. Remarks and Conclusions. 



That there is no material difference between venous and ar- 

 terial l)lood in respect to specific caloric, excepting what arises 

 from difference of specific gravity; that the temperature of 

 arterial blood is higher than that of venous ; and the tempera- 

 ture of the left bide of the heart, than that of the right; and 

 Jafitly, that tlie tempcratuic of parts diminishes as the distance 



of 



