Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1968, Page 101

Motion Sickness
By Constantine Lygonis
In a country wlhere the communications are governed by
thc necessity of sea travel, the problem of motion sickness is
more acute.
This article was suggested by the Chief Medical Officer for
Faroe Islands, Dr. H. D. Joensen, who is interested in ivesti-
gating how the population of a fislhing and seafaring commu-
nity responds to the frequent stress of motion sidkness.
Motion sickness is unique amongst all illnesses tthat are
known to humans because it can cause complete temporary
incapacitation without any patthological basis, and entirely
by reflex mechanisms.
At some time or other, almost every known substance has
been tried for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness:
Creosote, a mixture of salt and vinegar, horseradish, withered
herrings (Brit. Med. J. 1862), a mixture of hydrocyanic acid,
nitric acid, Hydrodhloric acid, and magnesium sulphate
(Hocken 1861). Petroleum and niootine pills were sold in
Great Britain, chewing gum was advocated by Monto (1947)
in a paper.
Brandy, gin, champagne, pilocarpine, ergotamine, bella-
donna, and phenemal have also been suggested. Various proce-
dures were advised such as salt water baths (Bennett 1928),
tight compression of the neck, and paoking of the ears with
cotton wool (Lemon 1919).