and soap, and then alcohol, 70%.

The mouth temperature of a healthy person is about 98.6 deg. F. This
statement holds true if the person has been sitting with his mouth shut
for a little while before his temperature is taken; but a hot bath,
breathing through the mouth, eating or drinking, and so forth may cause
marked temporary changes.

The temperature in the rectum generally varies less than the temperature
in the mouth unless it is taken when the rectum contains fecal matter.
The temperature should be taken by rectum in babies and young children,
restless, drowsy, or delirious patients, patients who cannot be trusted
to keep the thermometer under the tongue, mouth breathers, and in any
patients who have difficulty in keeping the mouth shut. The temperature
is normally about half a degree higher in the rectum than in the mouth.

In order to take a temperature by rectum, adults generally find it more
convenient to lie on the side and prefer, if they are able, to insert
and hold the thermometer themselves; but the attendant should be
certain that they can do so without breaking the thermometer. Rectal
thermometers should be lubricated with oil or vaseline before using;
they should be inserted about two inches, left in three minutes, and
cleansed in the same way as the mouth thermometer. A thermometer used to
take rectal temperatures should never be used in the mouth.

In taking the temperature of a baby place him on his back, hold him
firmly with his legs elevated, and carefully insert the bulb of the
thermometer, well oiled, for about one inch. Keep the child quiet, and
hold the thermometer in place three minutes. Great importance should not
be attached to a slight fever of short duration. The temperature of a
child is much more easily affected by slight causes than that of an
adult, and rectal temperatures between 97.5 deg. and 100.5 deg. should
not cause anxiety unless continued.

Temperatures taken in the axilla are less accurate than those taken by
mouth or rectum. Consequently the method is less often used. The axilla
should first be wiped; then the thermometer should be inserted and held
for 5 minutes by pressing the arm tightly against the chest wall. The
temperature in the axilla is normally about half a degree lower than in
the mouth.

The temperature varies somewhat according to the time of day. It is not
unusual for the mouth temperature of persons who are entirely healthy to
be as low as 97 deg. in