242 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



its very slow thawing. Never apply warmth of any kind to a frozen 

 part, and avoid sitting near a warm stove afterwards. 



428. Effects of raising the temperature of the body. 



When a living body is exposed to a higher temperature 

 than is natural, the respiration and circulation are much 

 increased by the extra heat and there is much mental 

 excitement. In fevers there are usually excitement and 

 delirium. A continuous temperature of 105 degrees is 

 usually fatal. 



It is possible to work in an atmosphere which has a temperature 

 of 150 degrees or more, and men have remained in hot ovens for many 

 minutes without harm. Their perspiration flows very freely, and its 

 evaporation carries off the extra heat, so that the temperature of the 

 body does not rise. If the perspiration should cease, the temperature 

 of the body would rise at once, and death would soon take place. 



429. Burns. A temperature of 1 10 degrees feels very warm, 115 

 degrees is hot, while 120 degrees is all that a person can commonly 

 stand. A temperature higher than this injures the cells so that a blister 

 will be raised in a few minutes. A temperature of 170 degrees coagu- 

 lates albumin at once and so destroys the life of cells which it touches. 

 A temperature of 212 degrees, or boiling point, at once produces a deep 

 scald, while higher temperatures burn the skin to a crisp. 



Cold water applied at once to a burn prevents its extension and 

 soothes the smarting, but it should be applied only for a short time 

 lest it should injure the cells. Common baking soda is one of the 

 most soothing applications. A mixture of linseed oil and lime water 

 is a good application for continuous use. After a deep burn has healed, 

 a puckered scar will be left, but the scar will be less noticeable if healing 

 is hastened by skin grafting. 



430. Burning clothing. When the clothing on a person takes 

 fire, a great danger is that the flames may be inhaled. It will take 

 some time for the flames to penetrate to the flesh, but they may quickly 

 spread upward. So a person should always lie down at once. Then 

 let him roll over and over so as to crush out the fire. Even if the fire 

 is not extinguished, the flames cannot reach the face, while the clothes 

 can be removed as well lying down as while standing. In helping a 



