Article October 12, 1899 Issue

Miscellany

"I'm convinced that seasickness is largely a matter of imagination," said the captain of a steamship in the Central American trade. "Strong-minded, determined people are very rarely affected, but those who believe in advance that they are going to be ill are never disappointed. Years ago, before I got my present berth. I had a billet on the Ocean Steamship Line going out of Savannah, and our steward enjoyed a great reputation for his wonderful cures of seasickness. His scheme, which he confided to me, was to mix up a little salt and water in a vial, and direct the patient to take a teaspoonful every fifteen minutes. 'This is a very powerful drug.' he would say impressively, 'and directly after taking the fourth dose all traces of nausea will disappear.' In nine cases out of ten the treatment worked to a charm, and he raked in numerous fat tips. Last season one of our passengers for Port Cortez was a gentleman who had sprained his ankle, and who went directly to his cabin without my seeing him. The first day out he got deathly seasick, and I concluded to try the efficacy of the salt and water treatment. I mixed up the dose and found my patient lying in his berth groaning, with his face to the wall. 'I have a certain cure for your trouble,' said I, giving him the usual preliminary talk. 'It's a very powerful drug, and after you take four teaspoonfuls you may rest assured that your nausea will instantly vanish.' He turned as if had been shot, and glared at me like a maniac. 'Good Lord!' he groaned. 'It's the same old gag!' and with that he grabbed the bottle and threw it through the dead-light. The man had a heavy black beard, but the moment I heard his, voice I recognized him as our old steward on the Savannah line. He couldn't be cured. He knew too much."

Times-Democrat.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Miscellany

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access