48 Dr Davy's Voyage from England to Barbadoes. 



2. Of the effect of Seasickness as a remedial means. 



It has for a long while been supposed that sailing is bene- 

 ficial in pulmonary complaints, and especially in pulmonary 

 consumption ; and that it has proved so in many instances can 

 hardly be doubted. The effect has been referred by different 

 writers to various circumstances, — partly to mildness and equa- 

 bility of climate — partly to the gentle exercise, unavoidable and 

 constant, connected with the motion of a ship — partly to the 

 sickness or feeling of nausea more or less commonly produced, 

 — ^and by some, perhaps fancifully, to a something unknown, 

 some peculiar vapour inhaled from the sea, and floating over 

 it in its atmosphere. 



The few following observations made on myself tend to sup- 

 port the generally-received opinion referred to, and to shew 

 that the effect belongs to the class of the lowering and sedative, 

 that is, the reverse of the stimulating or exciting. 



I may premise that I am very subject to sea-sickness ; but 

 that on this voyage I suffered less from it than on any preced- 

 ing, owing to the comparatively little motion, from the great 

 size of the steamer and the fineness of the weather ; only 

 twice or thrice, I may add, was the sickness amounting to 

 vomiting, and but little nausea even, after leaving Madeira. 



The following table shews the temperature of the body, de- 

 termined by a delicate thermometer placed under the tongue, 

 the state of the pulse and of the respiration, as regards fre- 

 quency, carefully counted in the sitting posture, and at the 

 earlier hours in bed in the same posture. 



Temp, ot 

 Cabin. 



64 



66 

 64 



68 

 70 

 73 



Mean, 98*25 5557 13-25 



These observations, to have weight, must be compared with 



