864 



ANIMAL HEAT. 



the cortex during the performance of the puncture did not cause any 

 rise of temperature. The high internal temperature after puncture of 

 the corpus striatum was accompanied by an increase in the temperature 

 of the skin, and by an increase in the respiratory exchange, and in the 

 discharge of nitrogen in the urine. The mean result of the determina- 

 tions of the respiratory exchange was as follows : 



Aronsohn and Sachs conclude that the rise in temperature after the 

 puncture is due to increased production of heat, and increased metabolism, 

 arising from the stimulation of the corpus striatum. 



These experiments have been repeated and extended by Hale White, 1 

 who found no rise in the temperature of rabbits after lesions of the 

 white matter of the cerebrum, but an almost constant effect after injury 

 of the corpus striatum and optic thalamus. In the case of lesions of 

 the corpus striatum, the rectal temperature rose to 41 -6 in two cases, 

 to 41'l in eleven cases, and to 40 in eighteen ; while in three cases 

 there was a slight rise, and in two a fall in temperature. The average 

 rise was 1 0< 7, and was attained within four to sixteen and a half hours 

 after the operations, and persisted for about sixty-two hours. After 

 lesions of the optic thalamus, the average rise of temperature was 1'4. 

 Hale White concludes that the corpus striatum and the optic thalamus 

 can modify the temperature of the body, and that they do not work 

 directly through the vasomotor system. No increase in the discharge of 

 carbon dioxide was observed in rabbits after damage to the corpus 

 striatum. 2 



Several cases of a rise in temperature in man after a haemorrhage 

 into the corpus striatum have been recorded. 3 



Eecently Tangl 4 has observed the effect of puncture through the 

 anterior part of the optic thalamus in horses. In one case the tempera- 

 ture rose to 40 - 8 within twenty-four hours, in another to 40 '4 within 

 sixteen hours of the operation, and in two other cases there was no 

 effect. The temperature remained only for a short time at the above 

 height, and then fell. 



Fredericq 5 found that removal of the cerebral hemispheres in pigeons 

 caused practically no difference in the daily curve of their rectal 

 temperature. This observation has been confirmed by Corin and Van 

 Beneden, 6 who have, in addition, shown that the pigeons without their 

 cerebral hemispheres produce the same amount of carbon dioxide and heat 



1 Journ. Physiol., Cambridge and London, 1890, vol. xi. p. 1. 



2 Hale White, Croonian Lectures, Lancet, London, 1894, July 10, axidJSrit. Med. Journ., 

 London, 1897, vol. ii. p. 71. 



3 Bourneville, Ferrier, J. H. Bryant, Hale White ; references given by Hale White, Brit. 

 Med. Journ., London, 1894, 17th Nov. 



4 Arch. f. d. ges. PhysioL, Bonn, 1895, Bd. Ixi. S. 559. 

 6 Arch, de Mot., Gand, 1882, tome iii. p. 747. 



6 Ibid., 1889, tome vii. p. 265. 



