Experiments on the production of an imitation of sea sickness by complex visual disturbances / by Graily Hewitt.

  • Hewitt, Graily, 1828-1893.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experiments on the production of an imitation of sea sickness by complex visual disturbances / by Graily Hewitt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    and indisposition was complained ol, but these symptoms became a little relieved as the time went on, and, in fact, as the light diminished. The room had become very dark, and the atmosphere obscured by fog. Observation ix (January 29th. Present, Dr. Menzies, of Stamford Street.)—The observation to-day was made on Mr. T., one of my clinical clerks at the hospital. He has crossed the Channel two or three times, and has always suffered from sea sickness. He was subjected to the action of the swiDg and moving mirror combined as in former experi- ments. No effect seemed to be produced for about a quarter of an hour, but after that time he soon began to feel uncomfortable, and left the swing at the end of twenty minutes feeling decidedly ill, and as he had formerly felt at sea. Observation x (January 30th).—A lady, about 35 years of age, unmar- ried, was the subject of the experiment. She suffers much from sickness when at sea, and has sometimes felt ill on a river. But she does not usually perceive the feeling of sickness until about twenty minutes have elapsed. For the first five minutes she was in the swing she stated that the motion was rather pleasant than otherwise, and she rather enjoyed it. At the end of eight minutes she began to feel a little uncomfortable. The motion of the swing at first was made obliquely from side to side, together with some 6 inches of up-and-down motion, so that the seat of the swing described an ovoid in a vertical plane. The motion was then changed to that of an ovoid in a horizontal plane from side to side. Three minutes after this change had been made, and eleven minutes from the commencement of the experiment, she said that she felt very ill, and left the swing. Shortly after leaving the swing she wished to go out into the fresh air, and immediately after leaving the room she became sick and vomited. A few minutes later she returned to the room looking very pale and ill, and declined to stand even looking at the mirror, though it was in a state of rest. [Professor Burdon Sanderson to-day inspected the apparatus and saw the lady who had been experimented on.] Experiments resumed in 1885, simultaneous oscillations of swing and mirror being employed as in first series of experiments. March 9th, 1885. Two experiments in Bandaging Room, University Col- lege, with a somewhat improved apparatus just erected ; the movements of the swing not very well managed, and mirror imperfectly oscUlated. Observation xi.—Mr. Y., one of the clinical clerks at the hospital, not liable to sea sickness. Has never been sick at sea, but has sometimes felt a little inclined to be sick. After being moved in a vertical ovoid plane for about fifteen minutes experiment given up. Produced a slight constriction in throat something like what he had felt at sea. Observation xii.—Mr. W., obstetric assistant at University College Hospital; is always ill at sea if at all rough; fifieen minutes' trial. Towards end of time he felt qualmish, but not distinctly nauseated. About two minutes after getting out of the swing he expressed himself as feeling very uncomfortable, with distinct sensations such as he had been accustomed to experience at sea, and had headache in evening. Observation xiii (March nth, 1885).—Mr. T., suffers much from sea sickness. After being in swing ten minutes felt sensations like those of sea sickness and discomfort. Motion of swing chiefly vertical plane ovoid. Duration, fifteen minutes. Observation xiv (March 11th, 1885).—Mr. W., moderately good sailor. Duration, fifteen minutes. After seven or eight minutes felt dryness of throat, headache, and nausea. This persisted till he left the swing. Part of time simple horizontal movement of swing found less effective than vertical ovoid. Observation xv.—March nth, 1885. Mr. W. (same as Observation xii on March 9th). In swing 15 minutes. Felt a sharp headache while in swing, but not nauseated as on former occasion. Observation xvi.—Mr. V., fairly good sailor. Not much affected, but when he kept his eyes on one object reflected in the mirror he observed that there was commencing discomfort. Duration of experiment, 15 minutes. Observation xvii.—Mr. J., good sailor. In swing 10 minutes. No per- ceptible effect. Observation xvin.—March 12th, 1886. Mr. K., a bad sailor. In swing 8 minutes. Effects, giddiness, fulness in head like what he is accustomed to feel at sea, and sensations of illness, so much so that he was anxious to discontinue the experiment. The last two minutes, horizontal move- ment from side to side (of swing); these produced more discomfort than the vertical ovoid movement. The mirror was worked to-day more per- fectly than in former Experiments xi to xvii. Observation xix.—March 12th, 1885. Mr. G., easily made sick at sea. In swing 5 minutes. Says he is made to feel ill by sitting back to engine in a train. Felt distinctly nauseated in the swing very quickly. The horizontal side to side motion of swing most trying to him. Observation xx.-March 20tli, 188o. Mr. B., a good sailor, has been