What Is Normal Body Temperature?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
8. What Is the History of the Average Temperature?
Ever since the German physician Carl Wunderlich measured armpit temperatures in the mid-1800s, the average adult temperature has been set at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this study was only based on 25,000 individuals. More recent studies from 1935 to 1999 seem to indicate the average temperature is actually lower.
These more recent studies show an average temperature closer to 97.5 degrees when taken orally. However, these modern studies have exposed many factors related to temperature changes. It’s difficult to determine whether average temperatures have indeed changed or if this difference is only a sign of differences in measuring tools.
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