SEA-SICKNESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 38, 8 November 1907, Page 9

SEA-SICKNESS.

An interesting new theory of the cause of sea-sickness and its ,curo is put forward in a little book entitled ■ "Seasickness: Its True Cause and Cure," which has just been published by Mr: H. Norman Barnett, E.R.U.S., surgeon to tho Cripples' Home, Belfast, and formerly surgeon to tho P. and O. and Orient Mail Lines. ■•._■■■' Mr. Barnett draws a distinct Jine between what he calls sickness at sea and true seasickness. , Tho former, .which he says is often confusod with truo sea-sickness, is caused by a disordered condition of tho stomach, and yields to the ordinary treatment for such cases. True sea-sickness, however, he ascribes to a totally different cause. The Internal ear, Mr. Barnott says, contains threo canals hollowed out of the temporal bone; each one being set at right angles to tho other two. These canals contain a fluid known as the endolymph, and they perform tho function of a human spirit-level.. This has been proved by experiments with pigeons. In cases whero one or other of tho canals have been severed tho bird has lost its nower to maintain its equilibrium. Mr. Barnett's theory is that the motion of the ship causes .a violent and unaccustomed motion of the endolymph, which irritates the delicate nerves terminating in the canals. These nerves communicate with'tho stomach and other organs, and set up the nausea and other symptoms which aro characteristic of sea-sickness. One of his strongest arguments is that the first and most characteristic symptom of seasickness is giddiness and staggering, which he ascribes to the derangement of the human spirit level. Tho treatment, both preventive and curative, which Mr, Barnett indicates is a free dosago with bromides under tho advico of a competent medical man. The action of the bromide is to deaden tho, nerves, and thus lessen the reaction on the 'stomach and other organs, iintil tho nerves have become accustomed to tho unusual motion of tho endo"ivmph. . ' Mr. Barnett gives sovcral typical casos which'ho has treated successfully in accordance with his theory. Mr. Barnett protests most strongly against the indisoriminato way in which persons in bad health rfro ordored sea voyages. In cases of phthisis in particular sea voyages, he declares, are very dangerous.