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DR. DAVY ON THE TEMPERATURE OF MAN. 



before introduction. In the one case, the thermometer slowly falls to the temperature 

 of the mouth, and is stationary ; in the other case, after having fallen it again rises, 

 continuing to rise till the maximum temperature of the closed mouth is acquired. 



The observations which I have made with this thermometer have been altogether 

 on myself; it would have been difficult indeed to have made them on another, with 

 the requisite degree of accuracy, as they are tedious, demanding so much time and 

 care. They were begun in August last, and have been continued almost daily up to 

 the present time, with the exception of the greater part of the month of October, 

 when they were interrupted until a second thermometer could be procured to supply 

 the place of the first, which was then broken, and which was even more delicate than 

 the second. It was my intention to have extended them to a period of twelve months 

 before collecting the results ; but this I am not able to accomplish, having received 

 an order to prepare and hold myself in readiness for foreign service. Abroad I hope 

 to be able to continue them, and as that will be in a tropical climate, I am the more 

 desirous of communicating now the information I have already obtained ; the com- 

 parison of the two sets may prove interesting. 



In conjunction with the temperature under the tongue, I have in most instances 

 noticed the pulse and respiration, considering it a desideratum so to do, and with 

 the hope that the observations on the latter may be useful data, and may in some 

 measure tend to throw light on the former, there being such an intimate connexion 

 between them. The posture in which the pulse and respiration have been counted 

 has always been a sitting one. 



Of the many problems which might be proposed regarding the temperature of the 

 body, I shall now only touch on a small number; and I shall be well-pleased if the 

 information I have to give shall be considered merely as a contribution towards their 

 solution, a beginning of an inquiry to be extended. 



1. Of the Variation of Temperature during the twenty -four hours.. 



To endeavour to determine what is the extent of this variation, I have made on 

 several occasions, observations every second or third hour, from the time of rising to that 

 of going to rest, confining myself to the house during the whole time and to rooms of 

 nearly the same temperature, the greater part of it, and varying but little my occupa- 

 tion. The following for a single day will give a pretty accurate idea of the result : — 



