The Merciful Mask

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22883, 2 December 1939, Page 17

The Merciful Mask

(specially written fob the pezss.)

[By JOHN CHXLSTON]

AfjROLGA (or native companion) became sick recently while travelling in an airliner. It is too late to help the brolga, but science is catching up with air and sea sickness. One of these days, when you go aboard a stratosphere liner, a hostess will ask. “Merciful mask or electric collar, sir?” The “merciful mask” is the latest contribution to stomach happiness. It is the .invention of Dr. Walter Boothby, of the Mayo Clinic. Early in January the British liner Lady Nelson berthed in New York after a 30-day tfip to British Guiana -and back. On board ?was Dr. Boothby who had made guinea pigs (very willing ones) of four seasick passengers. The mask had given complete relief to three and partial relief to a fourth. .

It is held in place by straps round the head. Two hollow tubes run from a muzzle fitted over the nose to an oxygen bag on the chest. Dr. Boothby claims the oxygen contributed to stomach stability. : The possibility of an electric collar to ward off air-sickness is suggested by the discoveries of two French scientists* Indian fakirs really gave the scientists the tip. Fakirs had been seen treating nausea by vigorous massage of the,back of the neck. . ■ . . Relief was r btamed evidently-be-cause the medulla oblongata was warmed. The medulla, oblongsta_ is that small bulb of nervous tissue inside the back of the neck, just at the junction between the spinal cord and brain. . „ . Scientific application of the principle was the use of electric currents of the kind used in diathermy. It relieved sea-sickness, car-sickness, air-sickness, and all similar conditions almost immediately. . But if you, prefer the old-fashioned remedies, here are a few of them:-* - Chew barley sugar. ■ * Drink beer. Drink champagne. * Drink stout. Drink ginger ale. Put plugs soaked in cocaine solution in ears. -