5, CORNHILL, E.G., AND 122, EEGENT STREET, W., LONDON. 



161 



FIG. 309. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



I. The index must be set before commencing to take an observation. 



[N.B. The index is a portion of mercury detached from THE COLUMN IN THE STEM 



OF THE INSTRUMENT.] 



. 1. After the index has thus been set, the bulb of the instrument may then be applied 

 to the axilla, or any part which is completely covered ; and, being retained in close apposition 

 with the surrounding soft parts for a period of not less than three minutes, the instrument 

 is to be carefully and gently removed, when the top of the index i.e., the end furthest from 

 the bulb will denote the maximum temperature during the period the instrument has been 

 in perfect contact with the patient. 



II. THE OBSERVATIONS ought to be continuous daily, and regularly taken at the same 

 hour every day throughout the whole period of sickness. The most useful periods for 

 observation are 1. Between 7 and 9 o'clock in the morning ; 2. At noon; 3. Between 5 

 and 7 o'clock in the evening ; 4. At midnight. 



III. In all observations of temperature, the Pulse and the Respirations should be noted 

 at the same time. 



The normal temperature of the human body, at complete sheltered parts of its surface, 

 amounts to 98'5 Fahr., or a few tenths more or less; and a rising above 99'5 Fahr., or a 

 depression below 97*3 Fahr., are sure signs of some kind of disease, if suck increase or 

 depression is persistent. 



The average temperature of the trunk of the body in the Tropics is nearly one degree 

 higher than in temperate regions. 



The increase of temperature above 99 Fahr., as measured by the Thermometer, is the 

 best index of the amount of fever present in any disease. 



The temperature of the body in disease is much more readily and rapidly influenced 

 than either the pulse or the respiration. 



The co-relation of the pulse, respiration and temperature, is of the utmost importance 

 to be known in many diseases. For example, in Pneumonia, if the mean of the temperature 

 is not above 104 Fahr., and that of the pulse is not above 120 in a minute, and the mean of 

 the respirations not over 40 in the same time, the case must be considered a slight one ; and 

 if the patient is otherwise healthy he will surely begin to get well in from 8 to 10 days, 

 without any medical treatment beyond attention to diet and rest. 



Each disease which runs a definite course (e.g., scarlet fever, measles, small-pox, typhus 

 fever, typhoid fever, rheumatism, avute phthisis, and the like,) has a characteristic and dis- 

 tinctive range of temperature. 



FIG. 309*. 



Printed instructions for use given with the Clinical Thermometers, and further par- 

 ticulars of their practical application may be found in " Aitken's Science and Practice 

 of Medicine" 



