title: Hippocratic thermography.
abstract: The thermal measurement method of Hippocrates, which has been referred to as the first for measuring body temperature, was reproduced and the image obtained was compared with an infra-red radiation thermogram. Hippocrates' method involves covering the patient's thorax with an earth-soaked cloth. As the warmer areas dry faster, the pattern of enlargement of the dry area shows the temperature distribution. Therefore, it appears that Hippocrates was the first to obtain thermograms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Instrumentation Engineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan. otsuka@inst.i-mde.tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togawa
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D006801:Humans; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*