CALIFORNIA COLLEil 

 of PHARMACY 



CHAPTER XXV 

 HEAT AND CLOTHING 



404. Temperature of the body. During health a man's 

 body has a temperature of 98^ F., which does not change 

 either upon the warmest day in summer or the coldest day 

 in winter. The body is warmed by the oxidation of its 

 own cells and of digested food. 



405. Change of heat to energy. The power which the 

 body puts forth in performing work is derived from the 

 heat of oxidation. The work of the heart requires the 

 use of y x g- of all the heat produced in the body ; the respi- 

 ration requires g^ ; digestion and absorption require a 

 smaller amount. An ordinary day's work requires T 3 ^ of 

 the total amount of heat. So nearly three fourths of all 

 the heat produced is used simply to heat the body. 



406. Uniformity of temperature. In some parts of the body 

 oxidation is many times more active than in others. Probably most 

 of the sugar is oxidized in the liver, and most of the fat in the lungs. 

 As fast as heat is developed it is carried all over the body by the blood ? 

 so that there is scarcely half a degree's difference between the tem- 

 perature in any two parts. Only the surface of the skin is cooler 

 because it comes in contact with cooler air. 



407. Fever. When the temperature of the body is 

 raised only a degree there is a feeling of warmth and dis- 

 comfort, which is called a fever. The discomfort is worse 

 as the temperature is higher. A temperature of 104 de- 

 grees is a sign of severe sickness. 



