Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/153



bosoms heaving  with  the  lieaving  sea ;  or  when  they are seized  with  a  sudden  interest  in  the  study  of  ich- thyology, and strain  their  eyes  in  untimely  peering into the  troubled  waters. It makes  a  man  g-lad  to see  his  companions  sea-sick ;  it  makes  him  rejoice  in his  superiority,  to  delight  in  their  woe;  he  laughs that he  is  better  than  they. Then the  shame  of  it  to the  miserables  who  suffer. Of all  who  remained  cab- ined and berthed  for  the  two  days  succeeding  our  de- parture, few could  be  found  who  had  been  sea-sick  at all. Some had  had  a  headache,  others  were  fatigued and needed  rest ;  some  were  not  hungry,  and  then  it was  too  much  trouble  to  dress. Of all  maladies,  the one for  which  its  victims  are  least  to  blame,  they  ap- pear the most  ashamed  of,  while  colds  and  fevers brought on  by  foolish  indiscretions  are  unblushingly acknowledged.

Many have  made  sea- voyages  who  suffered  severely at first,  but  afterward  very  little ;  although  they could still  be  seasick  in  rough  weather,  they  knew better how  to  take  care  of  themselves. There appears to  be  no  universal  remedy  for  this  hateful and hated  nausea;  some  find  relief  in  iced  champagne, others in  brandy,  soda-water,  tea,  gruel,  codfish,  or fruit. Much depends  upon  the  state  of  the  system, and no  two  are  to  be  treated  exactly  alike. In some individual cases,  the  secret  is  to  find  that  place  and  po- sition where one  can  be  most  at  rest. Few ever  suc- ceed in combating  the  evil,  being  always  forced  to  yield vanquished. Hence it  is  on  going  to  sea,  the  first thing to  do  is  to  arrange  one's  room  and  effects  so  that one may  be  prepared  for  it ;  as  a  certain  nobleman  used deliberately to  make  ready  his  bed  before  getting drunk. On this  steamer  my  berth  was  near  the hatchway, and  at  times  the  sun  poured  in  upon  me the  full  volume  of  his  rays,  which  with  the  motion  of the  ship,  long  fasting,  and  a  compound  of  villainous smells ranker  than  Falstatf  found  in  Mrs  Ford's  linen, made  me    almost    wild   with    fever    and