AXIMAL HEAT. 4:17 



' The influence of the cerebro-spinal system upon the animal 

 temperature is illustrated in cases of paralysis, when there 

 is generally a very considerable diminution in the heat of 

 the affected part. This fact was noted, many years ago, by 

 Earle, who also observed that the temperature was in part 

 restored under the influence of electricity. In one case of 

 paralysis, he found the temperature of the hand of the af- 

 fected side 70, while the hand of the sound side was 92. 

 After the use of electricity for ten minutes, the temperature 

 of the paralyzed hand was raised to 74. Ten days after, 

 the temperature of the hand on the paralyzed side was 71 

 before, and 77 after electricity had been employed. 1 



It is evident that if animal heat be one of the necessary 

 attendant phenomena of nutrition, it must be greatly influ- 

 enced by the state of the circulation. It has been a ques- 

 tion, indeed, whether the modifications in temperature pro- 

 duced by operating upon the sympathetic system of nerves 

 be not due entirely to changes in the supply of blood. It is 

 certain that whatever determines an increased supply of 

 blood to any part raises the temperature ; and whenever the 

 quantity of blood in any organ or part is considerably dimin- 

 ished, the temperature is reduced. This fact is constantly 

 illustrated in operations for the delegation of large arteries. 

 It is well known that after tying a large vessel, the utmost 

 care is necessary to keep up the temperature of the part to 

 which its branches are distributed, until the anastomosing 

 vessels become enlarged sufficiently to supply blood enough 

 for healthy nutrition. In the experiments of Becquerel and 

 Breschet, simple compression of the artery supplying the 

 arm was sufficient to produce an immediate fall in the tem- 

 perature. 3 



effete du froid sur Vliomme. Journal de la physiologic, Paris, 1858, tome i., pp. 

 502, 505. 



1 EARLE, Cases and Observations, illustrating the Influence of the Nervous Sys- 

 tem in regulating Animal Heat. Medico- Chirurgical Transactions, London, 1816, 

 vol. vii., p. 176. 



2 Loc. tit. 



27 



