Of the Effect of Sea-sickness, as a remedial means. 49 



others made under different circumstances, which I am enabled 

 to do, having for many months previously made similar ones 

 on myself, the results of which are contained in a paper that 

 has been given to the Royal Society. It may be sufficient 

 here to mention, that the mean of seven months' observations, 

 viz., from the first of August to the last day of April, inter- 

 rupted only in November, is, for the morning temperature 

 98*74; the morning pulse 57 '6 ; the morning respirations 15*6. 



Comparing these mean numbers with those for the eight 

 days on the voyage to Madeira, do they not seem to warrant 

 the conclusion before mentioned, that the influence of sailing 

 is rather lowering or sedative, than stimulating or exciting, 

 and especially as regards the function of respiration ? 



It is reasonable to suppose that this effect may diminish, as 

 the individual becomes accustomed to the motion of the ship, 

 and loses all sense of nausea. If so, short voyages, with inter- 

 vals of a week or two, might be preferable for the invalid to 

 voyages of long duration. I continued my observations to the 

 end of the voyage, and their results, I think, are in favour of 

 this conclusion ; i)ut they are far from decisive, as a disturb- 

 ing cause soon interfered, viz., the higher and exciting tem- 

 perature of the intertropical region, which we so soon entered 

 after leaving Madeira. Probably, were minute inquiry insti- 

 tuted, besides the effects on th^ system that I have hinted at, 

 others might be detected. It is not unlikely that most of the 

 secreting organs are influenced, and with their action their secre. 

 tions modified. Whilst living on shore in England, a deposite 

 of lithate of ammonia often appeared in my urine. During the 

 voyage, though using a good deal of animal food, I never wit- 

 nessed it ; but, on the contrary, there was almost constantly a 

 formation of ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate, which presented 

 itself in its characteristic form of an iridescent pellicle. Gout 

 is, I believe, unknown amongst sailors, and calculous complaints 

 far from common. May not this be owing in part to an in- 

 fluence such as that alluded to, tending to check the lithic acid 

 diathesis \ I may add another observation. It appeared to 

 me, that at sea, whilst no lithic acid was deposited in the 

 urine, but an unusual proportion of the double phosphate, less 

 tartar was deposited on the teeth, — a matter, as it is well known, 



VOL, XL. NO. LXXIX. — JANUARY 1846. D 



