Experimental researches on the temperature of the head / by J.S. Lombard.

  • Haynes Frederic H.
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experimental researches on the temperature of the head / by J.S. Lombard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Now the idea long ago suggested itself to the writer that the degree of absolute temperature of the parts examined might have something to do with the presence on the right side at one time, and on the left side at another time, of superiority of temperature, or again, with the presence, at certain times, of equality of temperature. In fact, a con- siderable number of observations seemed to show that near the higher limit of range of absolute temperature equality and superiority of temperature of the left side prevailed, while superiority of temperature of the right side was the most frequent condition at a lower absolute temperature. To understand the different circumstances under which the temperatures of two parts may vary, so as to leave each one in turn warmer than the other, let us imagine a con- dition of things such as the following :—Suppose that of the two parts compared, one, a, is, in the first place warmer, and, in the second place, cooler than the other, b.^^ When, in the second instance, b surpasses a in temperature, one of five things may have occurred, namely:—First, b may have risen in temperature in a degree exceeding the difference between it and a, the temperature of the latter remaining constant; second, a may have fallen below the level of b, the tempera- ture of the latter being unaffected; third, both parts may have risen in temperature, b, however, rising in a suffi- ciently greater degree than a to attain a higher final level than the latter; fourth, both parts may have fallen in temperature, the fall of a being, however, sufficiently greater than that of h, to leave the former at the lower final level; fifth, a may have fallen and b have risen in temperature, the fall and rise being sufficient to leave b at the higher final level. If we regard the thermal values of a and b as re- presented in the first place, by the temperatures 35-1° C, and 35° C. respectively, the following will represent the changes specified : Ist Instance. 2nd Instance. 3rd Instance. « . » f a b a b 35-1° C. 35° C. 35-ra 35-2° C. 34-9° C. 35° C.