The presentation that I never gave

Back in my youth, I was incredibly curious about the world of medicine, particularly the topic of rectal temperature measurement. It might sound unusual, but I was also very fascinated by the development of medical methods and how they evolved over time. At the age of 15, I had the opportunity to give a presentation in my history class in front of the whole class. I had delved deep into this subject, pouring over numerous books and articles, and, of course, exploring the exciting beginnings of fever measurement on the then newly emerging internet. I was simply thrilled by what I had learned and couldn't wait to share my knowledge with my classmates. But as the set day approached, I ultimately didn't dare to go through with it. You can imagine how it feels to stand in front of the entire class and talk about a topic that some might find rather peculiar. Fear of reactions and laughter ultimately held me back. As a precaution, I had also prepared a backup presentation, specifically on the development of hygiene standards in medicine. I thought that this might be a safer topic. However, deep down, I knew that rectal fever measurement was my true interest and what I really wanted to talk about. In the end, I completely lost my courage in front of the class. Instead of the presentation on the history of rectal temperature measurement, I ended up giving the one about the early history of hygiene in medicine. It was still interesting, but I always wondered what would have happened if I had stuck with my original topic. Now, many years later, I often contemplate how courageous it would have been to speak about such an unconventional topic. But sometimes, it's simply challenging to step out of one's comfort zone, especially during one's youth.

I wonder if there might be any interest here in "making up" for that missed presentation from back then, meaning posting it here. Recently, I found a CD where I had saved my old school stuff from that time, including a text file of this presentation. I would need to translate it, of course, but I'm happy to make the effort if there is interest. And would you have dared to present something like that if you had already put in so much effort into creating it? So it would have most likely resulted in the highest grade with almost certainty.

Would absolutely love to read your presentation. Please DO post it!!!

I would not have done the presentation eather. And the class definitely would have laughed, not necessarily at you, but at the mention of rectal tempature. I think it would be interesting to read/see the presentation.

@Lumara I think you were totally right in not doing it. You would have been deemed to have peculiar centers of interest by classmates and teachers, people would have talked about you behind your back, other students would have teased you, asked you whether you used that method to measure your fever, and so on. School in teenage years is a merciless environment.

But yes I'd be interested to read about it.

@Lumara, I certainly understand your reticence to make the presentation in front of your class on the topic of temperature measurement. It is a rather peculiar obsession that few of us have in common. However, this is a safe community for sharing, and I join the others in saying that I would be delighted to read what you had prepared.

I too would be interested in reading what you had prepared. I recall reading some place that a British doctor invented the thermometer, we in the USA recall as kids in the 1860’s. 🌡️

@Lumara I think an interesting topic would be the difference of practices :

- Why were rectal temperatures advised only for little children in small countries, and advised also for adults in others?

- Why did some countries consider that older children could insert the thermometer rectally, while, in some others, if a rectal temperature was to be tken, it was always done by a parent or nurse?

- Were they really more reliable than oral temperatures?

- Why were they eventually phased out? Are the new methods reliable?

I've always found it so weird that, even though humans are approximately the same in various areas and thus there should be no technical, medical reasons to have different care, medical culture decided on diverging options, and then people in these various cultures steadfastly believe their local custom is the best.

@Kenw The English physician who invented the clinical thermometer as we know it was Sir Thomas Clifford Allbutt. Always remember his last name! 😉

Instead of the presentation on the history of rectal temperature measurement, I ended up giving the one about the early history of hygiene in medicine. It was still interesting, but I always wondered what would have happened if I had stuck with my original topic.

A referral for counseling to the psychiatric service that treated students from your school? ... ha ha ha.

But seriously, knowing the lack of humor prevalent in schools, you made the right choice.

- Were they really more reliable than oral temperatures?

- Why were they eventually phased out? Are the new methods reliable?

I've always found it so weird that, even though humans are approximately the same in various areas and thus there should be no technical, medical reasons to have different care, medical culture decided on diverging options, and then people in these various cultures steadfastly believe their local custom is the best.

I have one of those skin temperature thermometers that you point at the forehead. I wondered how they can show the real temperature when I thought the forehead skin must be somewhat cooler than the real body temperature. I just checked my temperature with it and got 97.4 which is normal for me as I'm typically a degree lower than what they say is normal. Then I used the thermometer I used to check power transistors to make sure they were biased properly and not overheating. That showed my actual skin temperature to be 88.9. So those non contact medical ones must have a correction built in.

@agracier Or calling social services?

I am interest in reading that!

Show the report

Some interesting questions about regional customs. I’d like to see @Lumara ’s report and if it addresses this.

Okay. Since there is evidently some interest in the presentation, I will soon begin working on the translation. I will publish it under "blogs" once it's ready

I would like to see that