1874.] Influence of Brandy on the Bodily Temperature fyc. 181 



It may probably be interesting to note the usual course of the bodily 

 temperature in the water period. It was very uniform : at 6 A.M. (twelve 

 hours after food) the mean rectal temperature was lowest, viz. 98 ; and 

 it was highest at 10 at night, when it reached 100*14, or a difference in 

 the twenty-four hours of 2 0< 14 Fahr. 



From the effect produced by the breakfast, I infer that this course was 

 chiefly owing to food, and not to any peculiar effect produced by the time 

 of day. 



Thus the mean rectum temperature being 98 at 6 and 6.30 o'clock 

 A.M., it rose at 7 (just after a warm breakfast) to 98'3, and continued to 

 rise till 9 o'clock, when it reached 99. It continued at this point until 

 10 or 10.30, when it began to fall, and at 11 was 98-66, at 1 98-65, and 

 at 2 o'clock 98- 62. Then dinner and exercise were taken, and the ther- 

 mometer went rapidly up, being 99 a 08 at 3 o'clock, 99-42 at 4, 99'83 

 at 6, 100-10 at 8, and 100-14 at 10. It seems fair to attribute this rise 

 especially to the effect of food. 



The mean axilla temperature followed exactly the same course, being 

 lowest (97'36) at 6 A.M., rising after breakfast, falling again three and 

 three and a half hours after breakfast, and rising immediately after 

 dinner and tea to its highest point, 98'4 ; the mean diurnal difference in 

 the axilla temperature was one half that of the rectal, or 1-04*. 



The Pulse. 



The pulse was taken on an average twenty-three times daily, from six 

 in the morning until ten at night, the man being always in a recumbent 

 position, and, in fact, being in bed until two o'clock every day. The course 

 of the pulse before the brandy was taken was very constant ; the number 

 of beats per minute was raised by breakfast for two hours, then fell gra- 

 dually until dinner, and then rose greatly after dinner in consequence of 

 the food and exercise. 



The following are the averages of the days : 



Days. Before Brandy. During Brandy. 



1 7 6< 3 75'4 



2 79*9 73'3 



3 77 - o 77'2 



4 77'2 77'2 



5 72-6 73'9 



6 71-8 



Average of the whole water period 75*67 

 .1 brandy 75-47 



* It may be noticed, in reference to the rectum temperature, that it is not quite 

 correct to say, as is sometimes done, that there is no change within short periods. In 

 half an hour the rectum temperature has varied as much as 0- 4 Fahr., though I took 

 every precaution to place the thermometer properly and to read it with great care. 

 Usually it is much less than this. The variations within short periods in the axilla 

 were, however, decidedly greater than in the rectum, but were seldom more than from 

 0-G to 0< 8 as a maximum. 



