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Scurvy Research Paper

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The Age of Discovery was fueled by molecules of the spice trade, but the lack of another molecule almost ended it. Over 90% of his crew didn’t survive Magellan’s circumnavigation due to scurvy, a disease caused by a deficiency of the ascorbic acid molecule, dietary vitamin C. Symptoms such as excessive bruising, muscle pain, loss of teeth, diarrhea, and many more horrible symptoms come from scurvy. One main symptoms is depression that happens at an early age, but mainly you were exhausted and had sores that did not heal. Scurvy is an ancient disease. Scurvy became a commonplace at sea due to the development of more efficient sets of sails and fully rigged ships as longer voyages were made. The access of fresh water as they were on their voyages meant that scurvy was seldom a major problem. …show more content…

Consumption, bloody flux, head lice, scabies, and other contagious skin conditions were also common. At the outset of a voyage provision would be taken on board was butter, cheese, vinegar, bread, dried peas, beer, and rum. Soon the butter became rancid, the bread moldy, fired peas weevil infested, cheese hard, and beer sour. Because of that no vitamin C was provided, so signs of scurvy were often evident. In 1497 Vasco da Gama sailed around the southern tip of Africa and 160 of his members of his crew died from scurvy. For centuries scurvy was responsible for more deaths at sea. Anyone who showed signs of scurvy were dosed with three teaspoons of lemon juice every morning. The crew members on Jacques Cartier’s second expedition were badly affected by severe outbreak of scurvy causing many to die. An infusion of needles of spuce tree resulted in miraculous results. The symptoms were lessened and the disease rapidly

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