No. 582] SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERNAL CONDITIONS 331 



ent, therefore, the effects of temperature alone. It will 

 be noted that the body temperature attained in hysteria — 

 45° C. or 113° F. — and 46° C. in a case of intermittent 

 fever with recovery is nearly as high as we have found 

 recorded — 45.7° C. or 114.3° F. after death in a case of 

 tetanus, and is next to the highest recorded, as far as 

 our observation goes, with recovery of the patient. The 

 temperature of the body may, however, rise still higher 

 under the influence of external agents. Thus, in death 

 from strong electric currents, Klein 18 reports a body 

 temperature of 132° Fahrenheit (55.5° C.) or even 140° F. 

 (60° C.) immediately after death. 



The effect of temperature upon the contractile mani- 

 festations of protoplasm has been summarized by 

 Schafer : 19 



movements become more active as the temperature rises, attaining a 

 maximum of activity a few degrees above the natural temperature of the 

 body, although if maintained at an abnormally high temperature they 

 are not long continued. A temperature a little above this maximum 



ness or coagulation in it (heat-rigor), which is preceded by a general 

 contraction; from this condition of rigor the protoplasm can not be 

 recovered. But the protoplasm of some organisms will stand tempera- 

 tures approaching that of boiling water without passing into heat-rigor. 

 Freezing may cause destruction of protoplasm in higher animals, but 

 that of certain of the lower animal and plant organisms is capable of 



Frog's muscle (gastrocnemius) reaches its maximum 

 efficiency at about 35° C, after which a falling off occurs 

 as the temperature is increased. Heat-rigor makes its 

 appearance at about 41° C. — about two degrees Centi- 

 grade above the usual body temperature of a dog (an 



York, 1912, pp. 68-69. 



