ON BODY TEMPERATURE 493 



of its sweat glands, producing, it may be, the condition 

 known as " cutis anserina" and the haemic depletion of its 

 surface layers, with the consequent and proportionate, 

 more or less appreciable hasmic repletion, of one, more, or 

 all of the deeper-seated parts. This, the initial stage 

 of the morbid process, if it can be so called, lasts for a 

 somewhat indefinite period, when it is succeeded by a 

 more or less pronounced reaction, consisting of a more or 

 less profound disturbance of the whole " internal economy," 

 with a greater or lesser exaltation of temperature, consti- 

 tuting the fever, febricula, or pyrexia, which, in turn, 

 lasts for a somewhat indefinite period, or usually until 

 the sweat glands have been unlocked and diaphoresis 

 established. 



In analysing these events, and noting their sequence, we 

 are struck with what seems to us a " casual relationship " 

 running through and connecting them one with another ; 

 thus the " cold and wet," acting as the initial influences 

 in the production of the morbid phenomena described, 

 are instrumental in procuring the closure of the channels 

 by which surplus caloric is discharged through the 

 external surface of the body, and so, in arresting its 

 radiation and regulated dissipation, and procuring its 

 consequent and proportionate retention and accumulation 

 within the body ; primarily, therefore, the increase of 

 temperature in this instance is due to retention, or non- 

 discharge, of caloric ; secondarily, however, it may be 

 increased by physical, chemical, and biological action, 

 exerted by the detention within the body of noxious and 

 actively anabolic and katabolic materials. 



Summarising these remarks, we may describe febricula 

 as a morbid condition, due to retention of caloric from 

 closure of the channels of radiation, with a consequently 

 increased amount of metabolism, and requiring for its 

 removal the spontaneous, or artificial, reopening of said 

 channels the whole diseased process in its initial, cul- 

 minating, and closing stages, consisting of merely a 

 mechanico-chemico-physical disturbance, and its subse- 

 quent subsidence leaving " not a trace behind." We 

 may here remark that a temperature of 98-4 F. can 

 only be maintained by a regulative machinery, which is 



