source of animal heat being in the nerves, 63 



In eight hours the heat of the left foot rose to 94**, probably 

 from the increased quantity of blood circulating through its 

 arterial branches, since next day the temperature fell to 88', 

 at which it continued stationary for four days ; the foot of 

 the aneurismal side in 24 hours fell to 84°, but on the 

 following day rose to 85°, and continued at or above that 

 temperature till the ligature came away. 



Nothing can have been more satisfactorily proved than 

 that the heat of the parts of the body is diminished by dividing 

 the nerves going to them ; while, on the other hand, obstruct- 

 ing the arterial trunk of the thigh, even before it sends off the 

 great muscular branch, does not diminish the heat in the 

 smallest degree below the natural standard. 



I have had many opportunities of ascertaining the tempe- 

 rature of the foot after the femoral artery has been tied in 

 the operation for the popliteal aneurism, and found it com- 

 monly one degree below that of the other foot, but the heat 

 of the two feet had never been ascertained before the opera- 

 tion, so that I was most probably deceived in the conclusion 

 I had drawn ; and in reality, the heat of the other foot had 

 been raised above the standard, instead of having been 

 depressed below it. 



