TEMPERATURE OF THE BODY. The temperature in the healthy human adult aver ages from 98.4° to 98.6° F., but 97.5° and 99° F. are within normal limits. Tn the new-born child the temperature is slightly above the aver age, as it is in old age. Race has but a slight influence, a difference of .29° F. being observed between the nations of Southern Europe and those of the northern part. The temperature rises slightly after a meal and during exercise. During the day the body heat varies about half a degree, being highest between 5 and 8 P.M. and lowest between 2 and 6 A.M. In childhood the temperature is easily and rapidly influenced, slight ailments causing marked febrile reaction. The temperature is registered by means of the clinical thermometer, which is self-registering, placed in the mouth, axilla, fold of the groin, the rectum, or the vagina. The surface of the body is slightly cooler than the interior. A temperature below 03° or above 108° F. is almost always fatal. The usual range in fevers is between 99.5° and 105° or 106° F. As a rule there is a constant relation between the amount of fever and the rapidity of the pulse (q.v.) in many people. A pulse of 80 indicates a temperature of 100° F.; a pulse of
90, a temperature of 101° F., etc. A rise of temperature between 99° and 102° F. is termed slight or moderate pyrexia; from 101° to 105° severe pyrexia; and above this point hyper pyrexia. Many chronic and a few acute diseases are characterized by a subnormal temperature. This is observed in hemorrhage, starvation, and wasting from chronic diseases. In the melan cholia of certain mental troubles there may be great depression both of the general and sur face heat. An elevation of temperature attends by far the greater number of diseases. In the great class of the acute general infections (see NosoLoov) an elevation of the body heat is the most important symptom and is proportional to the severity of the disease. Very marked ele vation of temperature (hyperpyrexia) is seen in tetanus, acute rheumatism, pernicious malarial fever, and after injuries to the spinal cord. In tetanus the thermometer may register as high as 112.5° F. In sunstroke or heat-stroke, an equally high point has been reached. Lastly, the temperature may rise just before death, and after it, in rigor mortis. See ANIMAL HEAT; FEVER; etc.