380 



MOTION SICKNESS, I 



individuals as a preparation for some critical 

 activity when motion sickness might be en- 

 countered, e.g., paratroopers. Its limita- 

 tions lie in the temporary nature of the 



TABLE II 



Susceptibility to Motion Sickness 



Among Male Naval Personnel 



protection and in the cost of exposing per- 

 sonnel to daily adapting motion wherein it 

 may be necessary to observe each person 

 carefully to avoid over-exposure and thus 

 precipitate motion sickness. Furthermore, 



the adaptation may be related to the form 

 of motion in a rather specific way so that 

 it is not possible to condition a person's 

 resistance in general. 



3. Drugs have the advantage of being 

 administered with little difficulty when the 

 occasion requires the protection of personnel 

 whose skills are valuable or for the comfort 

 of passengers. They lack flexibility for 

 general use among regular personnel, since 

 in most cases drugs must be given before 

 exposure to motion. This is not an ob- 

 jection for passengers, since they may be 

 given the drug before embarkation. In the 

 case of a crew, bad weather would have to 

 be anticipated before the administration of 

 drugs would be justified. Furthermore, the 

 responsibility for the management of drugs 

 must rest with medical personnel who are 

 not always available on small craft, or for 

 that matter, cannot be standing by merely 

 for the possible dispensing of a drug. There 

 are also limitations of dosage, so that re- 

 peated administration of the same drug may 

 not be possible in continued rough weather. 



4. Design of ships or planes to eliminate 

 motion sickness has not as yet been exploited, 

 since design has been more dependent upon 

 such matters as speed and function. While, 

 in general, there is an inverse relation be- 

 tween size of the craft and the incidence of 

 motion sickness, the use of small planes and 

 boats is a necessity in many instances, e.g., 

 fighter planes and landing craft. 



5. Control of auxiliary factors may be 

 used to reduce the incidence of motion sick- 

 ness when selection and other forms of con- 

 trol are not applicable. Lying in the supine 

 position, viewing the horizon, and placement 

 at the center of gravity of a vehicle, all have 

 their function in reducing motion sickness. 

 It has also been suggested that an artificial 

 pilot be used to orient personnel working 

 below deck (113) . The disadvantages of such 

 control lie in the fact that not all the crew 

 or passengers can be at the center of gravity 

 nor can personnel be permitted to lie in 

 bunks or view the horizon at will. 



