The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-26
TIE HUMAN TEMPERATURE
HOW AND WHEN, OUR BODILY
HEAT VARIES.
Some Curious Facts Commented upon
BY Well Known French Scientist.
The Normal SO degrees.

one of the most striking facts in
physiology is the uniformity of our bod
lily temperature. No matter what the
extremes of atmospheric heat or cold
may be, the temperature of the interior
of the human organism rarely varies
more than a few degrees. According to
M. Francois Stepinski, who writes on
the subject in La Science Franchise,
the temperature of man may vary
slightly during health, but within such
narrow limits that we may say that in
the ordinary conditions of life the aver
age temperature of the healthy man is
20 degrees Fair Variations above or
below this do not exceed, in temperate
climates degrees to 3 degrees Fahr
This variation may, however, be in
creased a little under certain circum-
stances. Says NJ. Stepinski:
"All conditions being the same, the
normal physiolOgiC temperature is not
equal in all individuals; but unfortun-
ately we have no very exact data on
this point. Differences of a few de-
grees have been noted, and it may be
imagined how useful it would be for
the practising physician to know the
mean normal temperature of his pat
lent. According to some authorities,
there are persons who have a low nor
NAL temperature, just as there are
those who have a low pulse-rate, with
out counting children, with whom a
slight lowering of mean temperature is
frequent, but which always occurs after
an accident.
Everyone knows that there are reg
ular variations of bodily temperature
during the day, and it is the same dur.
ing the night. 1t has long been assert
ed that there are in the daily curve
two maXima and two minima; but
Charles RiChet has shown that the CEN
trail temperature goes through a very
regular cycle, with maximum at 3 to
6 p. m. and minimum at to a. IN.
But it should be said that this curve
is modified by motion, by work, and by
feeding, which cause it to rise higher;
and by sleep, rest, and hunger, which
make it fall. 1t should be added that
with persons who work at night the
nocturnal curve is very similar to that
Of the day.
THE influence of age is not so great
as is sometimes supposed. Evidently,
after a few minutes of life, the new
born infant loses % to 80 GO to So Fahr)
for we know that it quickly loses heat,
and that it is necessary to protect it at
this time. But ordinarily the tempera-
ture becomes normal again on the fol-
lowing day, only with feeble children
Goes it remain low. With old persons,
the temperature is often that of the
adult.
I'm regard to sex. experiments are too
few to give very certain results. Per-
haps there is slight difference in favor
of the female sex; but, to make up for
this, women resist cold less than the
male sex. AS to race, according to
numerous observers, men of different
races, placed in the same climates,
have sensibly the same temperature as
soon as acclimation has taken place."
The effect of climate and season on
bodily temperature, which j. next { on
sidered by NJ. Stepinski, depends he
tells us, on humidity as well as on heat
and cold. Very hot weather raises the
temperature slightly Likewise, when
we pass from a hot to a cold climate,
noticeable decrease in temperature
takes places; but it is less rapid than
the corresponding rise when a cold
country is left for warm one. The
difference may amount to two or three
degrees, but the abnormal temperature
ceases when the person becomes nc
climated If the surrounding medium
is heated artificially, as in a Turkish
bath, the bodily temperature rises
quickly at first for several degrees; but
a reaction takes place, and, owing to
the evaporation of the perspiration, the
temperature falls again. If the humi-
dity is so great as to prevent this eva
poration, there is grave danger of over
heating. The inverse action, of course,
takes place in cold bath. To quote
again:
Feeding raises the temperature
slightly, and thus after breakfast there
is rise of several tenths of a degree.
The same often occurs after the even
ing meal; but, curiously enough, there
is sometimes no effect at all. The
quality of the food must, of course, be
taken into account. The thermogenic
action of coffee, tea, and small doses
of alcohol is well known, as we'll as
that of coca and of certain medical
ments known as stimulants.
Physical labor and brainwork aug
ment the temperature manifestly; the
latter rarely raises it more than 06 of
degree (1.lo Fahr), but the former
has much greater effect Pathology
confirms the data, of physiology in this
regard, for we know that the maladies
where the temperature is raised most
(tetanus, etc) are those in which mus
cular contraction plays the greatest
part. Finally rest and sleep cause a
slight diminution of normal tempera-
ture."
SO much for the average central tenn
peratUre of the body, but the author
reminds us that the local temperature
is quite a different thing. According to
Gavasset, the temperature of the body
| increases from the skin inward, and
from the eXtremities toward the trunk.
The skin temperature may vary in a
| few hours by four to twelve degrees
| Fahrenheit, but the average remains
pretty constant. The local temperature
! depends on nearly the same conditions
as the central temperature. A curious
phenomenon is the difference of temper
allure often observed i'm hysterical per-
sons between the two sides of the body.
This, however the author reminds us,
trenches on the subject of pathology.
Literary Digest.