t)r Davy on the Temperature of Man* 501 
premises may seem to warrant, and with making a few remarks 
on animal heat, as a speculative question. 
I. Of the Variable Temperature of Man. 
In a voyage from England to Ceylon in the year 1816, I had 
an opportunity of observing the effect of passing from one zone 
to another on the temperature of man. 
It was in spring, in the month of February, that we set sail 
from England. I commenced my observations in March, when 
we began to experience the tropical heat ; and on the 10th of 
the month, when our ship was in Lat. N. 9° 42', the weather 
fine, an agreeable breeze blowing, and when Fahrenheifs ther- 
mometer, exactly at noon, under an awning where the passen- 
gers were assembled, was 78°. The gentlemen, who were so 
obliging as to allow me to try their temperatures, were all in 
good health, — had breakfasted about three hours before, — had 
taken little exercise,— -and, though warm in respect to sensa- 
tion, they were not disagreeably so, or sensibly perspiring. In 
each instance, the temperature was ascertained by placing a de- 
licate thermometer under the tongue, near its root, every pre- 
caution being taken to insure accuracy. The following were 
found to be the temperatures of seven different gentlemen. 
No. 
Age. 
Temp. 
1 . 
24 
99° 
2. 
28 
99.5 
3. 
25 
98.75 
4. 
17 
99 
5. 
25 
99 
6. 
20 
98 
7. 
28 
98.75 
On the 21st of March, in Lat. N. 0° 12', at noon, when the 
sun was apparently vertical, the sky clear, a fresh breeze blow- 
ing, and the temperature of the air 79°»5, I repeated my obser- 
vations on the same gentlemen, enjoying good health as before^ 
and not unpleasantly warm. 
No. Temp. 
1 - 100 ° 
2. 99.5 
3. 98.5 
4. 99 
5. 99 
6. 99.5 
7 • 99 
VOL. XIII. NO. 26. OCTOBER 1825. jg 
