Why Scurvy Became a Major Problem

Scurvy is a horrible disease that results from a serious lack of Vitamin C over time. Vitamin C is found mostly in fruits and vegetables—foods that were hard to store on long voyages during the Age of Exploration. Because fresh fruit spoiled quickly, sailors often lived on salted beef, dried grains, stale biscuits, and anything else that could survive months at sea. Sailors believed scurvy came from many causes, including “bad air” from swamps, but the real cause was not proven until 1932. Some historians estimate that scurvy led to the deaths of over two million sailors during this era.

Symptoms and Effects of Scurvy

The early stages of scurvy included several weeks of fatigue and weakness. As the disease grew worse, sailors developed pain in their bones and joints, along with sores that did not heal. In advanced stages, their gums swelled, their teeth fell out, and they became confused or irritable. Eventually, swelling, convulsions, and organ failure could occur. Remarkably, even severe cases could be reversed quickly once Vitamin C was consumed.

Other Diseases That Plagued Sailors

Scurvy was not the only danger lurking aboard ships. Sailors also suffered from several other non-venereal diseases. Malnutrition and contaminated food sometimes led to beriberi, a painful condition caused by a lack of Vitamin B1. Poor hygiene and tight living quarters allowed typhus—spread by lice—to sweep through crews. Drinking unsafe water led many sailors to develop dysentery, a severe intestinal illness that caused dehydration and weakness. Sailors also battled tuberculosis, pneumonia, and fevers caused by infections that spread quickly in the damp, crowded, and poorly ventilated ship environment. These diseases made long voyages extremely dangerous even when no enemies or storms were in sight.

Discussion Questions

1. Why was Vitamin C so difficult for sailors to get during long ocean voyages?
2. How did sailors’ misunderstanding of scurvy’s cause make the problem worse?
3. Which symptoms of scurvy do you think would be the most difficult for sailors to endure?
4. How did other diseases like typhus or dysentery add to the dangers of exploring the world?

Glossary

• Scurvy – A disease caused by a long-term lack of Vitamin C.
• Vitamin C – A nutrient found in fruits and vegetables that keeps the body healthy.
• Dysentery – A severe illness that affects the intestines and causes dehydration.
• Typhus – A disease spread by lice that causes fever and rash.
• Beriberi – A disease caused by a lack of Vitamin B1.