Dr. Wollaston on Sea-Sickness . 
9 
It is in descending' forwards that this sensation is perceived; 
for, then the blood has the greatest tendency to move from 
the feet towards the head, since the line joining them is in 
the direction of the motion. But when, in the descent 
backwards, the motion is transverse to the line of the body, 
it occasions little comparative inconvenience, because the 
tendency to propel the blood towards the head is then 
inconsiderable. 
The regularity of the motion in swinging, afforded me an 
apparently favorable opportunity for trying the effect of 
inspiration ; but although the advantage was manifest, I must 
confess, it did not fully equal the expectations I had formed 
from my experience at sea. It is possible that the suddenness 
of the descent, may in this case be too great to be fully coun- 
teracted by such means ; but I am inclined to think that the 
contents of the intestines, are also affected by the same cause 
as the blood ; and if these have any direct disposition to re- 
gurgitate, this consequence will be in no degree counteracted 
*by the process of respiration. 
A friend of mine informed me that he had endeavoured to 
counteract this mechanical effect upon the stomach, and had 
experienced immediate relief from a slight degree of sea- 
sickness, by lying down upon the deck with his head towards 
the stem of the vessel ; by means of which, upon pitching, 
he was in the attitude of a person descending backwards in a 
swing. 
Whether the stomach be or be not thus primarily affected, 
or only by sympathy with the brain, the sensation of sinking 
is in all cases referred directly to the stomach, which is 
seized with such instantaneous retching, that no person, 
MDCCCX, C 
