440 CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE MEAN TEMPERATURE. 



The peripheral parts of the body exhibit more or less regular variations of 

 their temperature. In the palm of the hand, the progress of events is the 

 following : After a relatively high night-temperature, there is a rapid fall at 

 6 a.m., which reaches its minimum at 9-10 a.m. This is followed by a slow rise, 

 which reaches a high maximum after dinner ; it falls between 1-3 p.m.. and after 

 two to three hours reaches a minimum. It rises from 6-8 p.m., and falls again 

 towards morning. A rapid fall of the temperature in a peripheral part cor- 

 responds to a rise of temperature in internal parts (Homer). 



(5.) Many operations upon the body affect the temperature. After 

 ' hcemorrhage, the temperature falls at first, but it rises again several 

 tenths of a degree, and is usually accompanied by a shiver or slight 

 rigor; several days thereafter, it falls to normal, and may even fall 

 somewhat below it. The sudden loss of a large amount of blood 

 causes a fall of the temperature of J-2C. Very long continued he- 

 morrhage (dog) causes it to fall to 31 or 29C. (Marshall Hall). 



This is obviously due to the diminution of the processes of oxidation in the 

 anaemic body, and to the enfeebled circulation. Similar conditions causing 

 diminished metabolism effect the same result. Continued stimulation of the 

 peripheral end of the vagus, so that the heart's action is enormously slowed, 

 diminishes the temperature several degrees in rabbits (Landois and Ammon). 



The transfusion of a considerable quantity of blood raises the tem- 

 perature about half an hour after the operation. This gradually 

 passes into a febrile attack, which disappears within several hours. 

 When blood is transfused from an artery to a vein of the same animal 

 a similar result occurs (Albert and Strieker) ( 102). 



(6.) Many poisons diminish the temperature e.g., chloroform (Schei- 

 nesson), and the anesthetics, as also alcohol, digitalis, quinin, aconitin, 

 muscarin. These may act upon the blood so as to limit its oxidising 

 power, or they may render the tissues less liable to undergo molecular 

 transformations for the production of heat. In the case of the 

 anaesthetics, the latter effect perhaps occurs, and is due possibly to a 

 semi-coagulation of the nervous substance (?). 



The temperature is increased by strychnin, nicotin, picrotoxin, veratrin (Hogyes), 

 laudanin (F. A. Falck). Curara (muscarin Hogyes), laudanosin (F. A. Falck), 

 give an uncertain effect. 



(7.) Various diseases have a decided effect upon the temperature. 

 Loewenhardt found that in insane persons, several weeks before 

 their death, the rectal temperature was 30-31C. ; Bechterew found 

 in dementica paralytica, before death 27'5C. (rectum); the lowest 

 temperature observed, and life retained, in a drunk person was 24C. 

 (Keinke, Nicolaysen). The temperature is increased in fever, and 

 the highest point reached just before death, and recorded by Wunder- 

 lich, was 44'65d (compare 220). 



