Abstract
1. The rate of cutaneous insensible perspiration in a certain region of a subject varied day by day even when it was measured under the same experimental conditions. Fluctuations within short periods of time were also observed. The amplitude of variations or fluctuations in various regions were large in the following order: Palm, forehead, chest, forearm. Fluctuations in insensible perspiration tended to occur synchronously or in parallel in various regions, revealing that they were caused by common, central agents.
2. The rate of cutaneous insensible perspiration in a limb (forearm and leg) varied according to its position referring to the heart level. Raising the limb was resulted in reduction of the rate, and vice versa.
3. The relationship between cutaneous insensible perspiration and skin temperature was not observed clearly, when the subject was placed in conditions of thermal equilibrium. On the other hand, in the area where the skin temperature was changed considerably by local cooling or heating, a significant positive correlationship was observed. In the cases of vasomotor reflexes elicited by immersion of one hand in cold water, significant relationship between the two variables was also observed in general view in the forearm of the cooled side, but, it was found that the changes in insensible perspiration followed not always the changes in skin temperature in detail. Variations in insensible perspiration seemed rather the reflexion of circulatory changes evoked by the cold stimulus.
4. In conclusion, it was confirmed that peripheral blood flow can affect the rate of cutaneous insensible perspiration, however, this effect is not realized by changing skin temperature.
