DR. DAVY ON THE TEMPERATURE OF MAN. 



321 



During the whole period, I have almost constantly tried the temperature under the 

 tongue on rising and before going to rest, and in many instances in the middle of the 

 day, between 2 and 4 p.m., when the circumstances were favourable. These obser- 

 vations I shall give in detail in tables appended ; here it may be sufficient to notice 

 the mean of each month's observations. 



During this period, comprising eight months, the health of the observer (aged fifty- 

 five) was pretty good, almost uninterruptedly so, excepting in December and January, 

 when he experienced slight lumbago, not preventing the taking of exercise; and for 

 a few days in November and January an attack of catarrh in a mild form. 



As I wish to be as concise as possible, I shall comment very little on the results of 

 the summary of observations. They seem to prove in a decided manner that the 

 temperature under the tongue, when under no disturbing influence, is about its maxi- 

 mum after waking after the repose of the night ; that it continues high, but fluctu- 

 ating more or less (probably owing to disturbing circumstances) till towards night- 

 fall ; and that it is lowest about midnight. Its lowness at the last-mentioned time 

 is the more remarkable, as the temperature of the room in which the observer sat at 

 night was almost uniformly higher than of that which he occupied during the day. 



2. Of the f^ariation of Temperature during different seasons of the year. 



The following Table exhibits the mean results of the observations made during the 

 eight months, at the different periods of the day, both of the temperature under the 

 tongue and of the air of the room. 



2 u 2 



