Manual of hygiene / [I. White Wallis].

  • White Wallis, I. (Isobel), -1923.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Manual of hygiene / [I. White Wallis]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    place, blit in tlie case of local inflammation and sores a local rise of temperature is often occasioned which may not be enough to produce fever or increase the general temperature of the whole body. Causes which decrease Animal Heat. The principal causes which decrease animal heat are Radiation, Conductibility of the surrounding media, and Evaporation of moisture from the surface of the skin and from the lungs. The loss occasioned by radiation.—The loss of heat occasioned by radiation depends on the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. If this is colder than that of the body a certain amount of heat will pass from the body into it but if about the same tempera- ture the loss by radiation will be very small. The conductibility of surrounding media.—Clothes are worn about the body to retain the animal heat and prevent its loss by radiation. Some materials however are good conductors of heat and if worn next the skin will allow the heat of the body to pass through them. These, as will be explained later on, should be avoided as articles of clothing. Wool and silk are bad con- ductors and therefore good as articles of clothing. Fur is also good in cases of extreme cold. Evaporation of moisture from the surface of the Skin and from the Lungs occasions the principal loss of heat sustained by the bodily economy. We find that ex- pired air is much warmer than inspired air. Our bodies therefore part with a considerable amount of heat with the air we breathe out. The skin is covered with innumerable pores from which a fluid called sweat is exuded. This fluid passes