540 
PHYSIOLOGY: M. KRISS 
Proc. N. a. S- 
(4) Effect of the act of defecation and of change in position. 
(5) Daily variations in body temperature measured at exactly the same 
hour of the day. 
The observations were made by means of carefully standardized clinical 
thermometers. During the greater part of the experiment one and the 
same thermometer was used, while for simultaneous readings of the rectal 
and vaginal temperatures a second one was used. To avoid any possible 
error that might be due to the use of two different thermometers, the lat- 
ter were for a few days interchanged, i.e., the thermometer used one day 
for measuring the rectal temperature was used the following day for the 
vaginal and vice versa. This was further checked by using one and the 
same thermometer for both the rectal and vaginal temperature readings 
being taken one immediately after the other. 
The observations on the thermal gradient were made at a depth of 4, 
5, 6, and 7 inches. All other observations were made at a depth of 7 
inches. The thermometers, which were originally five inches long, were 
accordingly lengthened by means of a piece of rubber tubing slipped a 
half inch or so over the upper end of the thermometer and over the string 
attached to the loop and stiffened by inserting inside the rubber tubing a 
strip of copper wire. This added portion was finally covered with adhesive 
plaster and a rubber ring tightly fitted at the end. This arrangement 
proved to be very satisfactory. The thermometer could be inserted to 
the desired depth and there was little danger of breaking it during the 
insertion. The thermometer was ordinarily allowed to stay in the rectum 
or vagina for about three minutes and the time and temperature recorded 
immediately upon its removal. 
The results of the several series of observations may be summarized as 
follows : 
(1) The rectal temperature was higher than the vaginal when measured 
at the same depth of 7 inches, showing an average excess of about 0.3^ 
F. The relative values, however, varied under different conditions, but 
showed a trend toward parallelism. 
(2) A fall in body temperature invariably followed the drinking of water. 
This fall varied directly with the quantity of water drunk. After the 
effect of the water drunk in the morning had been overcome, the tem- 
perature remained fairly constant till about 2.30 p. m. When no water 
was drunk the temperature was practically constant in the morning and 
in the afternoon till about 2.30 p. m. 
(3) There was a gradual rise in temperature in the afternoon from about 
2.30 p. m. to about 5.00 p. m. 
(4) Eating of feed raised the body temperature slightly for about a half 
hour when the cows received a maintenance ration. 
(5) The temperature of the rectum or vagina was decidedly higher when 
measured at a depth of 6 or 7 inches, than at a depth of 4 or 5 inches. 
