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How 98.6°F Became Medical Lore
- Philip Mackowiak borrowed Carl Wunderlich's original thermometer and tested it himself.
- He found Wunderlich's device read about 2°C higher and used armpit readings, explaining why 98.6°F stuck as 'normal.'
Normal Temperature Is Variable
- Mackowiak's study found only 8% of oral temps equaled 98.6°F, with average nearer 98.2°F.
- Body temperature varies by person, time of day, and menstrual cycle, so one 'normal' number is misleading.
Medicine Evolved By Trial and Error
- Anupam Jena summarizes medical history as 'trial and error.'
- Many past practices (bloodletting, lobotomies, mercury) arose from plausible theories but lacked good evidence.