Scurvy by Stephen R. Bown

In the days of tall ships, scurvy killed more mariners than any other illness. James Lind, James Cook and Sir Gilbert Blane undertook to solve the riddle of Scurvy. Their achievements heralded a new age and cracked the greatest medical mystery of the Age of Sail (from the publisher).
Apparently, in the days of tall ships, scurvy killed more mariners than any other illness, wartime period, shipwrecks and man-over-boards combined. I'm not sure what compelled me to read a book of this topic but this is a very interesting book. Every time a ship set off on a long voyage, the number of men was doubled as it was expected that they would lose at least 50% of them to scurvy. There is one story of 3 ships setting off together, and only one made it back - 90% of the men had died from scurvy. Scary stuff. Interesting reading through all the 'cures' too (sea water was one), and how the politics of the time influenced such cures. The idea and proof of oranges and lemons as a preventative and cure faced a difficult time of being accepted.
Rating - I give this 4/5 Not bad!
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Reviewed by Michelle @ admin