The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-28

Tho questions TO wnat Is seaslck-
ness really due? Is there any cureY'
have recently presented themselves in
new forms to the minds Of physicians
and Of the general public. There is
probably no minor allment which
causes 30 much discomfort, none
which gains 80 little sympathy from
those unaffected by It. and has had
such divergent treatment with so little
result. The authoritative report that
a cure has really been found has a
special interest In these days OF travel
and the constant crossing of troops
overseas.
The origin Of seasickness is not 30
apparent as many seem to think
That the exciting cause Is the motion
produced by q ship on a rough sea is
the indefinite reason assigned, but 1t
should be remembered that seasick-
ness arises in many circumstances
which are not those Of ship in
motion. 1t is communicated by other
motions, by the swing, a railway train,
revolving chair in which aviators are
tested. In their endeavor to reconcile
and harmonic these varying and
sometimes irreconcilable influences
physicians have reached different con-
illusions. Most Of them believe that
seasickness is a form of vertigo due to
irritation of the auditory nerve dis
tributed to the membrane OF the semi
circular canals of the internal ear.
This celebrated theory has been
generally accepted, or rather 1t was
accepted up to the most recent date.
During the past year, however. # has
been the subject of numerous criti-
cisms by army surgeons who have
been engaged in watching the effects
Of sea voyages on troops and civilians.
The experiences Of air travel have
also been studied, as the motion of an
airplane is in many respects like
that of a ship. In order to understand
both the theory and the objections to
1t a definition Of what it means seems
necessary. According, then, to this
theory the irritation of the auditory
nerve Is caused by the motions Of a
vessel on rough water. but not by
these alone. Any motion which is
contrary to that usually experienced
will cause a set OF symptoms exactly
similar to those of seasickness. But
this is not all. The fundamental
cause OF seasickness Is the varied
movement Of the fluid or lymph with
in the semi-circular canals Of the ear.
This theory has been defended and
lot, I,.t
Equilibrium and Vertigo" by DR..
Isaac Jones and DR.. Lewis Fisher. AL
though 1t rests upon some undoubted
evidence, its essential defect, that it
does not cover all the facts Of seasick-
ness, has been pointed out in reports
this summer from European countries.
1t Is not denied that the semi circular
canals have something to do with the
symptoms-theyh have. The semi-cir-
cular canals inform us as to our equi-
librium by means of the constant al
terations in pressure Of the fluid with
in their delicate walls. This Is closely
connected with the coordination OF
muscular movements. The semi cir
cular canals constitute q sort OF spirit
level of the body. 1t is not difficult to
understand that any motion which
will more or less violently throw the
fluid against the containing walls,
richly supplied with delicate nerve
endings, will produce symptoms ref
cradle first to our equilibrium. then to
| the brain, and finally to the stomach.
Lately two objections to this theory
have been argued on practical grounds.
II the theory were true. then deaf
mutes, in whom the semi-circular
canals are absent or imperfect. would
be immune to seasickness. Some
writer's, in fact, have rather hastily
! assumed that they were immune. thus
unconsciously begging the question at
issue. AS deaf mutes do not often take
! sea voyages. evidence was lacking I'M
I'll lately, when the Italian naval au-
thorities published report on this and
allied questions. Observations on ships
carrying refugees and emigrants,
among whom were a certain large pro-