This is a fascinating post about how the cure for scurvy was found, lost, and found again. (Hat tip: Seth Robert's blog.)
Got to keep your lemons and limes straight, people.
As I read the Aubrey/Maturin novels set in the early 1800s Royal Navy, I keep a running list of all the ways that I would make a terrible (and soon dead) sailor in that world. "Cannot tolerate citrus juice" is on the list.
(Also, I really want to read that book about Scott's expedition! I'm now #5 on the queue at the library.)
2 comments:
You would have to eat fresh meat, but probably there wouldn't be much on a long naval voyage. Maybe lots of cabbage?
Right, the meat was usually salted meat (though you could get lucky with fish) if you were not an officer with your own stores.
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