Scurvy
Scurvy (N.Lat. scorbutus) is a disease resulting from insufficient intake of
vitamin C, which is required for correct
collagen synthesis in humans. The scientific name of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus. Scurvy leads to the formation of spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from all
mucous membranes. The spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized. In advanced scurvy there are open,
suppurating wounds and loss of
teeth.
Scurvy was at one time common among
sailors,
pirates and others aboard
ships at sea longer than perishable
fruits and
vegetables could be stored, and by
soldiers similarly separated from these foods for extended periods. It was described by
Hippocrates (c. 460 BC–c. 380 BC). Herbal cures for scurvy have been known in many native cultures since prehistory. In 1536, the French explorer
Jacques Cartier, exploring the
St. Lawrence River, used the local natives' knowledge to save his men who were dying of scurvy. He boiled the needles of the
arbor vitae tree (Eastern White Cedar) to
make a tea that was later shown to contain 50 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams.
[1][2] Suchtreatments were not available aboard ship, where the disease was most common. It was a Scottish surgeon in the British
Royal Navy,
James Lind who first proved it could be treated with
citrus fruit in experiments he described in his 1753 book, A Treatise of the Scurvy.
In infants, scurvy is sometimes referred to as Barlow's disease, named after Sir
Thomas Barlow,
[3] a British
physician who described it. (N.B. Barlow's disease may also refer to
mitral valve prolapse.) Other eponyms include Moeller's disease and Cheadle's disease.
Symptoms
The symptoms include, dark purplish
spots on
skin; especially the
legs, spongy gums; often leading to
tooth loss, bleeding from all
mucous membranes,
pallor, bleeding gums, sunken eyes, opening of healed
scars; separation of knitted
bone fractures,
nosebleeds, non-stopping
diarrhea, and nail loss.
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy