Apr. x f 1921 Observations on the Body Temperature of Dry Cows 11 
The highest rectal temperature obtained was 102.2 0 F. at 5.30 p. 111., 
while the lowest was 101.6 0 at 8 a. m. The highest vaginal temperature 
obtained was 101.8 0 at 5.30 p. m., while the lowest was 101.2° at 9.12 
a. m., 11.36 a. m., and 1.42 p. m. 
OBSERVATIONS ON DECEMBER 5 , 1919, WITH COW 885 
Readings of the rectal and vaginal temperatures were taken at approxi¬ 
mately i-hour intervals from 7.57 a. m. to 11.30 a. m. and from 1.48 
p. m. to 5.30 p. m. The rectal and vaginal temperatures were measured 
at the same time by the two thermometers as on December 2. At 
8.10 a. m. the cow drank 23 kgm. of water at 54 0 F. The cow was stand¬ 
ing during all the readings, except at 9.30 a. m. The readings at 7.57 
a. m., 8.45 a. m., 10.42 a. m., and 5.30 p. m. were taken immediately 
after defecation. From 5 p. m. to 5.30 p. m. the cow was eating. The 
results are represented by figure 10. 
Fig. 9.—Variations in body temperature of cow 885 on December 4, 1919, 8 a. m. to 5.30 p. m. Cow drank 
no water; 8 a. m. immediately after defecating, standing; 9.12 a. m. immediately after defecating, stand¬ 
ing; 10.54 a.m. lying; 11.36 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. standing; 4.4s P- m - immediately after defecating; 5 p. m. 
to 5.30 p. m. eating. 
The curves show a striking resemblance to those in figure 6, showing 
in about the same way the effect of water drunk, the rise in temperature 
in the afternoon, as well as the relative positions of the vaginal and 
rectal curves. 
The highest rectal temperature obtained was 102° F. at 5.30 p. 111., 
while the lowest was 100.4° from 8.45 a. m. to 8.56 a. m. The highest 
vaginal temperature obtained was 101.6 0 at 5.30 p. m., while the lowest 
was 99.9 0 at 8.56 a. m. 
GENERAL, CONCLUSIONS WITH REGARD TO THE VARIATIONS IN BODY TEM¬ 
PERATURE FROM ABOUT 7.30 A. M. TO ABOUT 5.30 P. M. 
All the foregoing observations indicate that, in cows, the vaginal 
temperature is decidedly lower than the rectal, when measured at the 
same depth of 7 inches, while a trend toward parallelism between the two 
is also apparent. This can be, at least partially, explained by the fact 
that the vagina is more exposed to the outside atmosphere than is the 
rectum. For determinations of the average body temperature the 
