SEA-Sickness, a disorder incident to most persons on their first going to sea, occasioned by the agitation of the vessel. In voyages, sea-sickness, though it continues in general only for the first day or two, is extremely harassing to some people at intervals, especially on any increased motion of the vessel. Sometimes, by long continuance, it causes fever, headache, quick pulse, thirst, white tongue, and a total deprivation of the retention of the stomach; evils which are always difficult to remove, and frequently terminate only with the voyage.
This indisposition is considerably alleviated by a small tea spoonful of ether, taken now and then in a glass of water, and applying some of it to the temples and nostrils. The ancient writers recommend acid fruits, bread and vegetables soaked in vinegar, after the stomach has been cleansed by vomiting; but not to attempt to suppress the vomiting until that end was obtained. An old remedy for sea-sickness, and a very common one among sailors, is a draught or two of sea water; which, though a disgusting medicine at such a time, yet where the first passages are foul and loaded, generally produces the desired effect when the perturbation it occasions ceases.