The History of Scurvy and Vitamin C

This is a survey of the fascinating history of the various ideas and theories causing scurvy.

List of illustrations; Preface; 1. The explorers' sickness (1498-1700); 2. The writings of learned men (1540-1700); 3. Scurvy in the British Navy (1700-1772); 4. Captain Cook and pneumatic chemistry (1770-1815); 5. Land scurvy, potatoes, and potassium (1810-1905); 6. Problems in the Arctic and the ptomaine theory (1850-1915); 7. Infantile scurvy: the new disease of affluence (1877-1917); 8. Guinea pigs and the discovery of vitamin C (1905-1935); 9. Needs and uses for vitamin C (1935-1985); 10. Retrospect; References; Index.