Axillary Temperatures in Aged Women

Axillary temperatures have been taken with an electric thermometer in 105 aged women. The highest reading obtained was 37·4°C (99·32°F); the lowest reading obtained was 34·0°C (93·20°F). The range was therefore 3·4°C or 6·12°F. Differences between readings in right and left axillae might be as great as 1·4°C. The mean temperature on the right side was 35·84°C, and on the left side 35·75°C. The concept of a single ‘normal’ axillary temperature is therefore unsatisfactory.