G. A. BANHAM. 
210 
It should always be borne in mind, that the thermometer 
must be properly cleaned and disinfected after being used on 
animals suffering from a contagious disease, such as rinderpest, 
anthrax, glanders, variola, etc., in order to prevent the possibility 
of inoculation, which has been known to occur from this cause. 
* 
With regard to the time and frequency of its use, it is 
important that the same time and manner should be followed 
each day, and that the temperature should be taken twice 
(or even more frequently) during the day, also at those times 
which are supposed to be the lowest and highest limits of the 
normal temperature of the body ; for instance : if the temperature 
is taken twice a day, the same time morning and evening should 
be chosen each day, and if there is any exceedingly remarkable 
differences at either observation, it should be repeated to confirm 
the correctness of the same. 
The result of each examination should be noted, this being 
best accomplished by special tables, on which a simple line is 
drawn from point to point at each examination, thus giving a 
sketch of the variations of temperature from day to day during 
the course of a disease. Many clinicers note down at the same 
time the curve of the pulse and respiration on the same table, also the 
number of the pulse and respiration. In this way he has a concise 
table of the relations of the temperature to the pulse and respiration. 
Before we pass on to study the changes of temperature in 
disease, we must notice a few circumstances which influence the 
temperature, and therefore require our attention. 
The Age .—The temperature of young animals is often about 
0.5° higher than that of those which are fully developed. During 
fever, however, the relation remains the same, except thatt he 
deviations from normality are quicker. Richardson attributed 
this increase of the normal heat of young animals to their adipose 
tissues being more developed, fat being a bad conductor of heat. 
In old animals the temperature is often 0.5° or even 1° lower 
than the normal (Siedamgrotzky). 
The temperature is normally higher in animals which are well 
fed than by others ; because they are covered by a certain 
amount of fat which prevents the loss of heat. 
(to be continued.) 
