Overview

Scurvy, a serious nutritional disorder caused by a lack of vitamin C, became a significant problem aboard ships during the early modern era. The disease often killed sailors on lengthy voyages, and was so pervasive that ships frequently set sail with a double crew simply to have enough men to finish the voyage. In the mid-eighteenth century, a shipboard experiment by Scottish physician James Lind showed the value of citrus juice in preventing scurvy.

Background

Unlike most animals, humans cannot manufacture vitamin C and must eat a sufficient amount to stay healthy. Without enough vitamin C collagen begins to break down, causing a loss of bone, cartilage, and dentin—the calcerous material that makes up teeth. The early symptoms of scurvy, which begin to develop after about 12 weeks of poor diet...