Clinical Axila Thermometer
Clinical Axila Thermometer
Previous
Next
Usage conditions apply
- Description
- How do you know you are running a temperature? Do you feel hot or do you feel cold? There are many ways to determine body temperature. A hand placed on the forehead can indicate someone is hot or "feverish." For a more accurate measurement of someone's temperature, you need a clinical thermometer. Mouth,axilla (armpit), ear, and rectal are some of the different types of clinical thermometers.
- Clinical thermometers for measuring body temperature were introduced in the 17th century. But, they did not become an integral part of the physician's armamentarium until after the American Civil War.
- Early clinical thermometers were thin tubes of glass containing mercury, mounted to a rectangular piece of ivory or wood. The calibration, or graduated scale, was engraved into the mount.
- This axilla thermometer was sold by Francis Arnold, of Baltimore, Maryland. Arnold was listed as a surgical instrument maker on South Sharp Street in the Baltimore City Directory from 1845 to 1874.
- Object Name
- thermometer, clinical
- Date made
- 1845-1874
- retailer
- Arnold, Francis
- maker
- Arnold, Francis
- place made
- United States: Maryland, Baltimore
- Physical Description
- glass (overall material)
- ivory (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- mercury (overall material)
- Measurements
- average spatial: 13.8 cm x 1.7 cm x 4 cm; 5 7/16 in x 11/16 in x 1 9/16 in
- overall: 5/8 in x 5 5/8 in x 1 1/8 in; 1.5875 cm x 14.2875 cm x 2.8575 cm
- ID Number
- MG.302606.030
- accession number
- 302606
- catalog number
- 302606.030
- Credit Line
- The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- Measuring & Mapping
- Health & Medicine
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.
