6 
Dr. Wollaston on Sea-Sickness. 
Part II. On Sea-Sickness. 
The second remark which I have to offer to the Society 
relates to sea-sickness, the cause of which has not hitherto 
been fully explained ; and although the explanation which I 
am about to propose, may not appear altogether satisfactory 
to persons who, when at sea, are also rendered giddy by the 
incessant motion of the waves, and are consequently liable to 
consider as cause and effect phenomena which in their minds 
are constantly associated, yet the observation on which it is 
founded may deserve to be recorded, on account of the de- 
gree of relief that may be obtained in that most distressing 
affection. 
After I had been harassed by sea-sickness during a short 
voyage for some days, and had in vain attempted to account 
for the difference between the inexperienced passenger, and 
those around him more accustomed to the motion of the sea, 
I imperceptibly acquired some power of resisting its effects, 
and had the good fortune to observe a peculiarity in my mode 
of respiration, evidently connected with the motion of the 
vessel, but of which, in my then enfeebled state, I was unable 
to investigate either the cause or consequence. In waking 
from a state of very disturbed sleep, I found that my respira- 
tions were not taken with the accustomed uniformity, but 
were interrupted by irregular pauses, with an appearance of 
watching for some favourable opportunity for making the 
succeeding effort ; and it seemed as if the act of inspiration 
were in some manner to be guided by the tendency of the 
vessel to pitch with an uneasy motion. 
The mode by which I afterwards conceived that this action 
