Clinical Axila Thermometer
Clinical Axila Thermometer
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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.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- 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
- horizontally, resting on scale: 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in; 1.27 cm x 13.97 cm x 3.81 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
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