THE THERMOMETER AS A COMPANION IN DAILY LIFE. 
379 
has an exactly similar origin. The following example will serve 
to illustrate these facts : — 
Time 
Temperature 
Temp, of Air 
12 night 
12.5 
99-4 
1 
1 
32.10 
98-8 
12.15 
98-6 
12.20 
98-4 
12.25 
98-2 
- 51° 
12.30 
98* 
12.35 
98* 
12.40 
97-8 
12.45 
97-8 
12.50 
97*75 
12.55 
97*65 
> 
In this case, after having remained nude for half an hour, 
during which time the temperature rose three-fifths of a degree, 
getting into bed at twelve o’clock resulted in a fall of a degree 
and four-fifths within an hour — an amount which is very con- 
siderable when the shortness of the time is taken into account. 
On several other occasions I have been able to observe a similar 
fall under similar circumstances. The glow in this case was 
felt at 12.7. 
By another method the effect of heat in dilating the vessels 
of the skin, and so reducing the body-temperature, can be 
simply proved. If, after remaining some time nude in a cold 
air as above described, when the thermometer under the tongue 
has ceased to rise, if the feet or hands are placed in hot water, 
the temperature immediately commences to fall, the more 
rapidly the hotter the water. This apparently paradoxical 
result depends on the fact that the localized heat dilates the 
cutaneous vessels generally, and so causes more to be lost from 
the exposed parts than is gained from the hot water. Directly 
the contact is made with the water a shiver is felt, which is a 
certain indication of the general relaxation of the cutaneous 
vessels. The following is a case in point : — 
Time 
Temperature 
Temp, of Air 
11.35 
99*85 
11.40 
99*85 
11.45 
99*5 
[ 53° 
11.50 
99*05 
| 
11.55 
99* 
J 
