Apr. i, 1921 
Observations on the Body Temperature of Dry Cows 
13 
the thermal gradient rises sharply for the first few centimeters beneath 
the surface of the skin and soon reaches a point beyond which the body 
temperature is not materially increased. To reach this point in man 1 
and in the guinea pig 2 6 or 7 cm. were found to be sufficient. The follow¬ 
ing observations were made with the view 
of testing out these findings on cows. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THERMAL, GRADIENT, WITH COW 
886 ON DECEMBER 5 , I919, 2.09 P. M. TO 3.18 P. M. 
Observations on the rectal and vaginal tem¬ 
peratures were made simultaneously with the 
two thermometers. The thermometers were 
first inserted 4 inches deep, then 5 inches, then 
7 inches, then 6 inches, and finally again 7 
inches. The results are represented by figure 
11, and the actual temperature observations, the time, and the insertions 
are given in Table I. 
Table I.— Thermal gradient observations 
/o/.o 
/oasi 
Fig. ii.— Observations on thermal 
gradient with cow 886 on December 
5, 1919, 2.09 p. m. to 3.18 p. m. 
Time. 
Rectal 
temperature. 
Vaginal 
temperature. 
Depth 
inserted. 
2.09 p. ni.. . 
2.12 p. m... 
2.15 p. til... 
2.24 p. m.. . 
3.18 p. m.. . 
0 F. 
100. 7 
101. 0 
101. 5 
IOI. S 
101. 5 
°F. 
IOI. O 
IOI. 2 
IOI. 5 
IOI. 5 
Inches. 
4 
5 
7 
6 
. 7 
The results show that at a depth of 4 inches the rectal temperature 
was o.8o° F. lower than at a depth of either 6 or 7 inches, while it was 
only 0.3 0 lower than at a depth of 5 inches. The vaginal temperature 
was 0.2 0 lower at a depth of 4 inches than at a depth of 5 inches and 0.5 0 
lower than at a depth of either 6 or 7 inches. There was no rise in tem¬ 
perature between 6 and 7 inches—that is, the maximum body tempera¬ 
ture was reached in this case when the thermometer was inserted 6 or 7 
inches into the rectum or the vagina. Up to a depth of 6 inches the 
vaginal curve appears higher than the rectal. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THERMAL GRADIENT, WITH COW 886, ON DECEMBER 5, 1919, 3.25 
P. M. TO 3.42 P. M. 
Readings of the rectal and vaginal temperatures were taken simul¬ 
taneously as before. The thermometers were first inserted 6 inches deep, 
then 5 inches, then 4 inches, and finally 7 inches. The results are repre¬ 
sented by figure 12, and the actual temperature observations, the time 
and the insertions are given in Table II. 
1 Benedict, Francis G., and Slack, Edgar P. op. cit. 
2 Lipschutz, Alexander, op. cit. 
