Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-04
A French Fight Against sensickness.
(The Lancet.)


Those who suffer from seasickness may
,,a glad to learn that a league for It's
prevention has been formed in France
The society is called the 'Ligue contre
lie Nal de Mer;;' it is under the dlrectlon
of DR.. Mardeuf. who has founded Jour
nal called LIE Nal de N1er. and published
a book which processes to be a complete
hvpenic guide for those who travel by
water This small work contains large
amount of curious information. me nrSe
chapter is written to prove that there Is
such a thing as Seasickness tit is une
veritable maladie'), Il proposition Whlcn
will be readily granted. The further con-
ton that it can be avoided tother"iss
than by STAYING ashore) and that 1t Is
durable, can hardly be said at present TO
be matters of common knowledge. Cen
eral and special cautions which should be
taking before starting on journey are
given and a chapter devoted to the pc
havior which should be observed on the
day of departure.
On going on board the boat the travel
Ter should walk around. whistle, and sing,
should he possess that accomplishment,
# not. he should chat or regard a distant
fixed point through binocular glasses.
This latter practice is strongly recon-
mended by M. G.. Marguet. of Chalons,
who has found that the mere act OF hold
ing binocular glasses before the eyes mas
been sufficient to prevent sickness Inns
method of prophylaXis has its counterpart
in a tradition held by some British sail
ors to the effect that man who fails
overheard will never be drowned so long
as he can be induced to enter conversa-
ton. The English we learn, strongly
recommend the exhibition of ''wiskey,'
of cognac, of rum of brandy. of char
treuse and of porter. Whether these
remedies are usually taken separately
or together. We are not told. nor are the
doses specified. The author recommends
an alcoholic preparation of mint because
he says, the smell of that herb increases
the activity of respiration. In regard to
the food, DR.. Mardeuf finds that foie gras
and cream are apt to disagree. In the
case of acute symptoms he recommends
abdominal compression, concerning
which he has much to say.
Perhaps the most interesting thlng u
connection with the League, is the great
effort which it is maklng to obtain the
fullest details on all questions bearing on
the causat ton, symptoms, treatment ana
complications of seasickness. The meth
Cd called collective investigation is the
one which has been adopted, and a num-
Der of questions have been drawn up to
which answers are requested from all
persons interested in the malady. There
are thirty-seven questions, five of which
are addressed exclusively to ladies. Some
might suggest the wish that an easier
one might be substituted. For example,
many people would be unable Satlstac-
torily to define their temperament, and
to say whether it is reI lous. bilious,
I lymphatic or sanguine- Many of the
questions cover q good deal of ground
Here is one specimen: Question 49,. DO
you turn in as You come on board? Do
you do SO in the summer before the boat
sails, when the heat makes the cabins
intolerabe? Do You preserve the hori-
zontal posture? Do you lie on your back
or on your stomach, or on your right side?
DO you keep your head higher or lower
than your feet? Do the Arabs suffer more
or less from seasickness than we do?
Do you know any children who suffer
| from seasickness, if so, what are their
| ageS?'