ABOUT SEA-SICKNESS.

Shannon News, 5 September 1924, Page 3

ABOUT SEA-SICKNESS.

WHX PEOPLE SUFFER. Take away that soupl The reason why we are troubled with that awful malady seasickness has nothing to do with what we eat or do not eat, or when we eat or how we eat; neither has it to do with the amount iwe assimilate in the Way. of liquid.

No, the seat of the whole trouble lies in an extremely small hut delicate organ of equilibrium situated in close proximity to the ears, and very near to the tympan, a mem-, brane know# as the eardrum (writes a nurse in the “Daily News.”) (This organ sometimes 'becomes thickened by ear-wax, a substance secreted by the glands, of the ear during its transit to the outer passage, ajnd this prevents its proper functioning. ,

Now, in some mysterious way, when this organ of balance becomes clogged, it re-acts upon the peristaltic action; that is, roughly, the digestive action, of our food tract. By a process which is known as sympathetic nervous intervention, together with the unaccustomed motion of the boat, this causes us to vomit and to feel indeed abominably ill.

What steps ought we to take to prevent this feeling? Many folk, especially seasoned travellers, always pay a visit to their doctor before they take a sea trip in order that their ears may be well examined by the. aid of a strong light and a specflium for any traces of wax.

Of course, should any of this secretion be found, the doctor will syringe it all carefully away, so that his patient may start on his journey knowing that he, at all events, will be in the. happy and enviable position of being able to. eat everything, oa* almost everything, on the menu. But do not try the experiment of syringing out your own ears, because this operation requires skilled handling; one who is unaccustomed to the work might very easily injure the

most delicate structure of the whole body. By the way, should you journey through tropical seas, do not be tempted to partake too freely of Iced drinks. It will mean making superhuman. efforts to resist the deck-ste-ward’s cheery salaams each morning, but in response tQ his' query, “What is yours,, sir? Iced lime or lemon, sir? ‘ Qr maybe you’d prefer a short drink, sir?” just shut your earn; also to the sound of the ice tinkling merrily against the glasses with which he is tempting you from his shining tray. Or if you positively must, then limit yourself to. one drink, and one only, while the sun iS UP.-' .

As yqu absorb it gently through a straw remind yourself that life still holds something good in store for you. For ail in good time sundown will arrive, and with foe setting of the sun you will he able to quench your thirst without foe slightest tear of drastic and gastric consequences. Indeed, it has been suggested that a nice round pebble is foe best thing to suck during the heat of foe day; but—. ' ....... -