The Washington times., 1895-06-01
Suggestions For
D8liGaf0 UOuaqorS
SENSIBLE SCHEMES FOR ALLIE
WAITING SEASICKNESS.
Silk Sheets and Gowns and
Aromatic Salts Will Prevent
Much Wretchedness.

TO a delicate woman who suffers from
mai de mer, fhe voyage to Europe, which
so many undertake at this season OF the
year, is a veritabIe purgatery, anticipated
with dread and remembered with shudder
The long days of confinement in the narrow
berth. in the tiny stateroonl, are really a
serious strain upon the vitality, and the
gauDt- pinched face that appears on deck
after land is sighted is visible proof how
great a trial the system has undergone.
Perhaps the M ost serious difficulty is lack
Of air OF course, the desirable thing is to
have deck-room. where, in any weather,
the ports can be kept open, but the great
Atlantic liners deck k-roomg cost all the way
from $50Oto 500. and such sum as that
for seven days voyage is beyond the
purses of all but the rich or very extrava-
giant. The majority must be content to
stand the infliction OF a closed window
and such amount of air as wanders in
from the corridor or the mouth of a wind
sail.
They can, however. by a little pains and
forethought, greatly modify the trials OF
the voyage, and such pains, while adding
to the comfort OF the robust are really
necessary precautions for the delicate
Take, Tor example, the matter Of bed linen
For some reason or other the sheets and
pillow cases aboard even the best ships are
usually damp, ciammy and uninviting, due,
perhaps, to the humid sea air
To the poor wretch, shiYering and nau-
seated, who has been driven to the refuge
or bed, cold, moist bedclothes cause an
amount of discomfort that would surprise
a person in good health. The two condi-
tions most necessary to allay what the doc
tors call "DaUpathia" are warmth and fresh
air, and warmth is difficult to obtain in
damp sheets. If one can afford the expense
pair of silk sheets, with pillow case to
match. are causes Of infinite comfort in
seasickness.
THEY ARE NOT EXPENSIVE.
To1he casual ear, silk sheets has the sound
of Sardanapalian luxury, but in reality they
are not matters of such great Importance
after all. They should be manufactured
OF India mot Chinal silk, which costs about
sixty or seventy cents a yard Two yards
and a quarter is quite sufficient length, i,
and for the narrow berths two breadths
Will make a sheet of ample width. Two
yards more viii make a pillow slip. That
is to say. eleven yards OF silk at seventy
cents yard-S7.70. Not great sum TO
pay for a great comfort. and a matter
nearly affecting the health The more
they are washed the pleasanter they are to
the touch, and rolled up tightly occupy but
tiny corner OF the steamer trunk. Deity
slipped over the linen of the bed, they af-
ford to the wretched sufferer most invit-
ing nest, and will prevent any chill or dan
gerous lowering OF the temperature.
If these are impossible silk uightgown, ),
If really long and ample, will go far to-
wards filling their place. and in any event
40 fnnI
with a bot-water bottle-one of the sort
which has an outside cover of lambs s-fIeece
and tightly screwed mouth that does not
leak. When driven to bed by NAL de mer
make the stewardess fill this with very hot
water tthe fleece cover prevents any dan
ger of blister aud fight the cold moisture
of the sheets with artificial heat Very
frequently very hot bottle placed at the
feet, or upon the stommach will greatly
mitigate ones misery, and in all eases the
warmth is comforting and healthfuI.
PURIFYING THE AIR
The other great trial of the sick traveller
confined below, is the aforementioned de-
privation of fresh air. 1t is all very well
for those who can robustly defy the terrors
of the sea, to insist upon the sea-sick COM
ing above into the fresh wind. The windis
very reviving no doubt, but those in the
out OF bed, and they are concerned most
with remedies that will reach them in bed
and put them in state in which they will
have strength enough to go above for air.
The best asent at this stage is big bottle
OF aromatic lavender salts
Provide one of the ample, wide-mouthed
bottles, and when the air below becomes
close and Iifeless, open and let it stand so
in the room for an hour or snore The
effect is marvellous, and even the sensitive
nOstrils of the sea-sick sufferer can stand
the clean, volatile odor Of the lavender
salts when any other perfume whatever
would inevitably produce fresh crise of
nausea Repeat this as many times as is
necessary The bottle will keep it's po-
tency throughout a whole voyage Many
travellers who manage to keep well and on
deck during the day. pass very qualmish
aud uncomfortable nights when shut away
down below, deprived Of air. All such
will derive great comfort from this use of
the salts 10 their stateroom.
A DRY DIET BEST.
A great mistake, and one from which
delicate travellers suffer frequently, is the
ignorant convection of many well-meaning
persons, that the continual pouring of slops,
tea, soup and the like, down the unlucky
throats of those who are sea-sick, will i'm
prove their condition or lessen their misery
Nothing can be further from the truth, or
further from real kindness Except in
the stage Of recovery, when the patient be
gins TO feel an appetite once more, food,
aud particularly liquid food, should be
avoided.
One experienced traveller who suffers
from the '-sorrows of the sea" always goes
Immediately to bednpongoing aboard. This
is wise precaution, because usually the
work of packing and preparing for the yoy-
are has produced nerYousness and fatigue.