Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-12
CROSSING THE DEEP.
A Louisville Doctor DIscOurses
Of Sea Sickness and Other and
More Cheerful Ocean ExperI-
ence.


the year, when the airs are soft, the
skies bright and the temperature new
er above IS degrees Fair. There is a
widespread notion too, that the much
dreaded NAL de mer always seizes upon
those who have not before been tossed
upon the foaming ocean.
Now let it be understood sea -sick-
ness nearly always begins with consti-
patton, and then the state commonly
called bilious" rapidly follows; all
this is soon aggravated by nervous or
'sick headache. Considerable expe-
rience enables the writer to affirm that
saline or effervescing aperients taken
before going on board ship, and when
occasion requires during the voyage,
will in most cases prevent anything
like distressing symptoms; and if, in
spite of this treatment, the sick head
ache appears, it may be readily relieved
by liberal doses of the bromide of po-
tassium.
AS the ounce of preventive isalways
in good demand, it becomes matter of
the first consideration to choose not
only comfortable ship in which to
sail, but desirable location in the
cabin. As a rule, the largest ships
afford the best security against exces-
sive motion, but it is better to be
amidships in a ship 300 feet long than
little aft in the longest vessel. The
Lord Cough has, like all the British
ships in the American line, cabin
above the common deck directly amid
ship: consequently the saloon passen-
gers are stationed permanently for the
voyage in the most desirable position.
The ship is 400 feet long, and, there
fore, not liable to plunge in any ordi-
nary sea. The limited number of
saloon passengers provided for, and
privacy of the upper deck, add attrac-
tions to be ranked as first class. This
has been delightful voyage in every
way; none Of our party have suffered
the slightest SYMPTOMS of the dreaded
NAL. Captain Hughes and the genial
Surgeon DR.. Shea, being the only off :
GERS who eat at our table. we have en-
joyed rare chances for excellent fare
and for faithful and prompt attendance
Of the servants. The absence Of sights
on the way, except two or three steam
ers, sailing ship, an occasional whale,
shark or school Of porpoises, has no
doubt contributed TO the disposition to
hold post-prandial concerts in the
saloon.
Mrs. Davis, Of Philadelphia, has
delighted US with regular nocturnal
exhibitions of her highly cultivated
vocal powers, in very happy renderings
of an extensive collection of choice
ballads. 1t is worth half the price Of
ones passage to hear her rending of
"Twickenham Ferry" A day or two
ago one of the gentlemen passengers.
after skipping gayly over the deck to
the PROV, concluded to climb the
rigging of one Of the main masts.
After reaching the height of about
seventy-fye feet, he stopped to look
down for a moment at the passengers
below, when suddenly the boatswain
and jolly tar spraDg quickly beside
him and securely dashed him to the
rigging, When he had paid the pen.
atty of being chalked, which means
always q bottle of brandy at least, he
was permitted to escape the friendly
embrace Of the sailors line and de-
scend to his young bride and friends
below. The brandy was not set up"
until the next day, when the whole
day watch appeared on the quarter
deck with violin and banjo, and such
an old fashioned concert, with several
varieties Of clog dancing, these salts
INDUCED as you might long wish to
see. They held forth for two full
hours, and concluded by three cheers
and a bumper to the health Of the
bride and groom, and three to the gal
liant captain and officers who had per-
mitted the feat Of chalking passen-
ger in the rigging. In proposing the
health, ETC., the boatswain said; "The
greatest honor we can possibly confer
on passenger is to chalk him in the
rigging"
The ships surgeon, DR.. Shea, is q
young gentleman of French manners
and Italian accent, a charming man in
society, endowed With all the best
gifts Of nature, and the rarest educa-
tional accomplishments. He is a ma
tive Of, and has always resided in,
Dublin. His place on the Lord
Cough will be hard to fill, although it
is expected his brother viii succeed
him in the Office early in October. As
an illustration of DR.. Shea s superior
wisdem aud scholarship it may be in
teresting to note that he is a constant
reader of the Medical Herald.
Last night, whilst one of the young
misses gave expression to her desire
for a cyclone, q general demurrer was
announced by the other passengers,
and, strangely enough, in less than an
hour the wind arose out of the north
east corner Of the heavens and the sea
began to foam and boil in restless
fury, the ship tumbled and rolled I'M
Ill the great white caps began to
break over the deck. The brave cap
tain said the passengers had better re.
tire, as they could no longer maintain
a sitting position in the saloon. An
hour later, when it was supposed all
had sought the quiet precincts Of
dreamlapd, a low Rubbing mUrmur
was heard, and it was currently re-
ported to-day that the aforesaid miss
had all that time been pleading before
the Celestial throne for permission to
withdraw her petition for a cyclone.
| No cyclone came, however, and NO
have all rejOiced to-day At the friendly
disposition Of the el0menta,
| 4 pleasant little incident ola few
days ago had almost escaped my mind.
On the morning Of the 10Th o conaid-
cradle degree Of excitement Was
aroused by the discovery of helpless