EME. | 92 
rapid, sometimes irregular, and in turbulent 
weather, much interrupted by sudden lurches. 
That a violent commotion is communicated to the 
system by these combined motions must seem 
evident to every one, but the peculiar effects and 
operation of it upon the mind and body of the 
_ person who may be the subject of it, can only be 
thoroughly known by those who have experienced 
“it in their own persons. It must seem clear how- 
ever, toievery reflecting mind, that as this motion 
of the vessel is constant, though in a greater or 
less degree, a person at sea must be sensible of 
some permanent effect on the system, liable to 
to augmentation and diminution in proportion as 
the weather is calm or turbulent. This accord- 
ingly is the case, and there are few persons who 
are not affected by costiveness, not only imme- 
diately after going to sea, but in some degree sub- 
ject to it all the time they continue there. This 
effect I believe to be in no way dependant on, or 
in consequence of the peculiar aliment that is gen- 
erally eaten at sea, but owing solely to the contin- 
ual impulse communicated to the stomach and 
intestines by the rolling, tossing about and pitching 
of the vessel. I infer this from the fact, that this 
costiveness exists in a greater degree, in persons 
sailing in small vessels, of which the motion is 
short, quick, and pitching, than in larger vessels, 
as in frigates, where it is long and less often re- 
ated in a given time. Now though the more 
violent affection of the stomach for the most part 
oes off after four or five days, or at farthest in a 
week or ten days, there is nevertheless a certain 
kind of affection of that organ, and which indeed 
js in a degree communicated to the system gener- 
ally, that comes on during every heavy blow. A 
sensation is felt when the ship lurches or pitches 
