THERMOMETRY OF THE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 
235 
Body in Disease,” (1852), created considerable attention. He 
was the first who maintained that it set down rules and regula¬ 
tions in the course of certain forms of disease, manifested by the 
rising and falling of the temperature. Soon after this followed 
the excellent publications of Liebermeister, Thomas, Marey, Hirtz, 
See, Alvarenga, Woillez, Bulker, and others. 
The thermometer was then introduced into veterinary medi¬ 
cine. The first observations were made by Bassi, Schmelz, Schmidt, 
Adam, Gerlach, Zangger, Leisering, Stockfleth, Bueff, Sanderson, 
Colin, Trasbot, Zundel, Pfley, Lydten, Bayer, Anacker, Brusasco, 
Krablee, Flemming, Siedamgrotzky, Dele, and others, whose re¬ 
sults I have taken for the foundation of the following. 
Before we consider the aim and signs which the thermometer 
affords us, we must reflect on some important physiological facts, 
which arise from the development of the specific warmth of the 
animal body. 
The source of animal heat is produced by the chemical 
changes which take place in the body, due to the reception of 
oxygen from the external atmosphere entering into combination 
with the tissues. That portion of the heat which becomes free (or 
generated in excess) is called sensible (or palpable) heat. The 
lungs serve as a simple reservoir for the oxygen, and no peculiar 
warmth is generated in the respiratory organs themselves ; they 
undergo just the same slow oxydation as the other tissues of the 
body, which is effected by means of the circulation of the blood, 
thus distributing the warmth equally in all parts, the circulation 
being under the influence of the nervous system. Thus the nervous 
system may be looked upon as the regulator of the temperature of 
the body. 
When the temperature of the external atmosphere stands at 
nil 0° centigrade, the cold acts as an irritant to the peripheral nervi- 
vasorum, causing the superficial blood vessels to contract, and as 
a consequence, less blood to the surface of the body to be acted 
upon by the cold air. The diminished quantity of blood to the 
surface, also causes a decreased evaporation from the skin, 
therefore, less loss of warmth than usual. The internal tempera¬ 
ture of the body remains normal. 
