Scurvy Age of Sail

About Scurvy Age of Sail

Scurvy, caused by vitamin C deficiency, is often said to have killed more sailors during the Age of Sail than warfare, shipwrecks, and other diseases combined. One frequently cited estimate holds that scurvy killed some 2 million sailors between 1500 and 1800. Symptoms include bleeding gums, tooth loss, bruising, joint pain, and eventual death. In 1747, James Lind conducted one of the first controlled clinical trials, finding that sailors given citrus fruits recovered. The British Navy adopted lemon juice rations in 1795, largely eliminating scurvy from its fleets. Despite Linds findings, it took over 40 years for the Navy to act. The delay illustrates how scientific evidence can take decades to translate into policy. Vitamin C was not isolated until 1928 by Albert Szent Gyorgyi. The molecular role of vitamin C in collagen synthesis was elucidated in the 20th century. Scurvy still occurs in malnourished populations and was observed in modern refugee camps and among food insecure children.