4 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXI, No. i 
remaining portion over the string attached to the loop of the thermometer 
and stiffened by inserting inside the rubber tubing a strip of copper wire. 
This was finally covered with adhesive plaster and a rubber ring tightly 
fitted at the end. This arrangement proved very satisfactory. In the 
first place, the thermometer could be inserted to the desired depth, and, 
in the second place, 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 were 
recorded immediately upon its removal. 
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 
The results are expressed in the form of curves. In all curves except 
those of the thermal gradient the hours or dates are expressed by hori¬ 
zontal distances, and the corresponding temperatures are represented 
vertically. In the curves of the thermal gradient the horizontal dis- 
C /T 
Fig. i.—V ariations in body temperature of cow 886 on December i, 1919, 7.50 a. m. to 4.30 p. m.; 7.50 a. m. 
immediatelyafterurinating;8.2sa.m.drank5.2kgm.ofwaterat52°F.;io a. m. lying; 10.22 a. m. stand¬ 
ing and immediately after defecating; 11.15 a - m - lying; 1-30 P- ra * lying; 2.30 to 4.30 p. m. standing; 3.32 
p. m. immediately after defecating. 
tances represent the depths of insertion, and the vertical distances repre¬ 
sent the corresponding temperatures. 
The bam temperatures are not given because they were too uniform 
to have had any appreciable effect on the body temperature, ranging 
in most cases between 50° to 6o° F. 
To facilitate comparisons, the different types of curves for the two 
cows have been arranged to follow each other in more or less chronological 
order. 
VARIATIONS IN BODY TEMPERATURE FROM ABOUT 7.30 A. M. TO ABOUT 
5.30 P. M. 
OBSERVATIONS ON DECEMBER I, 1919, WITH COW 886 
Readings of the rectal and vaginal temperatures were taken at approxi¬ 
mately 1 -hour intervals from 7.50 a. m. to 11.15 a. m. and from 1.30 p. m. 
to 4.30 p. m. The vaginal temperature was measured immediately 
after the rectal by the same thermometer. The reading of the vaginal 
temperature at 7.50 a. m. was taken immediately after the cow had 
