Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei is credited with inventing the modern thermometer. Called an air thermometer, it was a device in which a colored liquid was driven down by the expansion of air. As the air got warmer and expanded, the liquid dropped. In 1612 Italian physician Santorio Santorio adapted the device to measure the body's change in temperature due to illness. A century later, in 1714, German physicist Daniel Fahrenheit invented the mercury thermometer. Thermometers in use today, contain liquid mercury, which rises as it gets warmer.
An exceptionally rare c. 1850 surface clinical thermometer with ivory scale and original box. The end of the ivory has a small hole for placing a string to swing the instrument and allow centrifugal force to reset the mercury, an early feature.
A superb c. 1860 axilla clinical thermometer with ivory scale marked: G. TIEMANN & CO. NY. The instrument's original triangular-shaped case is present.
http://antiquescientifica.com/archive23.htm
An exceptionally rare c. 1850 surface clinical thermometer with ivory scale and original box. The end of the ivory has a small hole for placing a string to swing the instrument and allow centrifugal force to reset the mercury, an early feature.
A superb c. 1860 axilla clinical thermometer with ivory scale marked: G. TIEMANN & CO. NY. The instrument's original triangular-shaped case is present.
Santorio invented a device that is so useful even today. It is probably one of the most used tools that man has invented. There are so many types of thermometers used for many different reasons. The designed of them has changed. It says, you would pull a string to bring the mercury back to the normal stop and now you shake it, but since there is even a digital one that it does it all for you. Today most thermometers are not mercury lead based anymore because of the danger of lead, they were very accurate, but are difficult on the eyes. I still prefer to use the mercury due to the accuracy of it. I find when I use digital you can get a different reading all the time. I understand the convenience of the digital ones especially when time is an issue in medical offices, but in this case I would rather have accuracy than speed when dealing with health issues.
ReplyDeleteThermometers were invented a long time ago by Santorio. It was really helpful for people who were sick and it is still helpful. i think that thermometers is one of the best invention because it helps people and environment with the temperature. They have different kinds of shape to it, but they still work the same. Even if they had the different liquids such as in early days they had a colored liquid in the thermometers and now they have mercury in thermometers they still work the same and they are still helpful the same way. now a days everyone keep thermometer with them to check their temperature when they are sick. It is really helpful device.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that the term "Fahrenheit" was actually named after someone. Hmmm...you learn something new everyday. I'm curious as to the amount of mercury in the thermometers back in the day. Isn't it against government regulations to have mercury thermometers? I guess that's a question for the "present blogs".
ReplyDeleteThe thermometer was a great advancement to medical science. This was one of the first steps in medicine to diagnosing illness.This led scientist to discover that a fever is an indication of infection which could then help in developing cures. Doctors can tell alot from your tempature. Certain illness commonly cause the same temperature for everyone. Dr's also can tell wether you have the flu or a bacterial infection by what your temp is.
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