In 1612, Italian physician Sanctorius Sanctorius invented the clinical thermometer by applying a numerical scale to Galileo's thermoscope. This innovation created the first modern instrument specifically designed to measure human body temperature. Sanctorius's work laid the foundation for advancements in medical diagnostics and the understanding of human health.

Sanctorius's invention of the clinical thermometer introduced a new precision in understanding the human body, challenging traditional poetic metaphors. This shift encouraged poets to engage with themes of the body and health in more empirical and nuanced ways.