Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-11
SEASICKNESS
Bv H. AddingtOn Bruce

Recently the Journal Of the American Med
ical association, in answer to an inquirer,
enumerated various means OF self-help in the
prevention and treatment of seasickness. The
subject is of sucl general interest that
gladly give additional publicity to the Jour
nails recommendations, which have behind
them, I need hardly add, the force OF COM
petent medical authority.
And, first, persons contemplating a voy.
=. of any length are advised to bear in
mind that the larger the boat the less the
liability to seasickness. The liability also
lessons the nearer one stays to the center
Of the boat.
Unless so Frustrated as to be unable to
leav ones stateroom, as much time as pos
sible should be spent on deck, reclining,
warmly covered, in steamer chair. Because
of the psychic element known to play an i'm
portant part in the causing of seasickness,
care should be taken to avoid so far as pos
sible conditions which may convey sugges-
tions Of nausea.
Thus it is important so to locate ones
chair on deck that the nostrils will not be
assailed by sickening odors from the kitchen
or engine room. And it is well to keep the
eyes shut, so as not to notice the bobbing
up and down of the horizon.
Or one can avoid this by keeping both the
eyes and the mind occupied with some en-
tertaining book Anything which distracts
the mind from unpleasant sensations due to
the boats movements will help both as a
preventive and remedy.
Sudden movements on ones part-such as
getting up quickly, bending suddenly for.
ward, hurrying up or down stairways, dress
in rapidly, ETC., should be avoided. And, OF
course, special attention should be paid to
the question Of diet.
When one is really seasick the mere
thought Of food may be nauseating. Still the
Journal properly insists that some food
CHI .,1I ~ o.
another is lost, it being less of a strain to
vomit something than to reich perpetually an
empty stomach:
Light, easily digested, small, and fire.
quent meals are indicated. They should be
brought to a patients berth: Swallowing
small chunks of ice, and sips of lemon Juice
or Of ginger ale are often grateful aids in
ness may be relieved by eating, or by drink
ing coffee"
And, with reference to diet as preventive
Of seasickness:
lone should avoid getting too hungry as
well as overaistendnl. the stomach with food
or drink. Some fruit should be eaten on
rising or Immediate IRE, and one should
go to the meal just as it is about to be served
and begin to eat immediately After eating,
one should lie down for short while.
zone should not eat more than usually,
excepting Of fruits and vegetables, the lat
ter to antagonize the tendency to constipa-
ton engendered by the change Of habits.
An aloe pill should be taken at bedtime any
day on which the bowels did not move"
All such D.eventives and remedies falling
resort to medication may in the end become
necessary. But the kind Of medication re-
CURED depends on conditions in the in
diviuual case. For that reason self-treat
ment should no longe.' be attempted, but the
services Of the ship doctor invoked.
Copyright, 1922, by The Associated News
papers.)