Vitamin lack

[Guest guest]

I'll correct myself, the first vitamin lack disease was scurvy, lack of

vitamin C. I think they discovered that juice of some fruits prevented

it, hence lime juice, and todays Limeys/ Sam

[Guest guest]

Sam Levy wrote:

<< I'll correct myself, the first vitamin lack disease was scurvy, lack of

vitamin C. I think they discovered that juice of some fruits prevented

it, hence lime juice, and todays Limeys >>

Early sailors, back in the days of sailing ships, learned about the dangers

of scurvy. They made a point of stopping at tropical islands and loading up

on lemons, etc., held in wooden barrels on deck, to boost their Vitamin C

levels. But when my Colonial ancestors came over, since they had to pay

their ship's passage in advance, their lives were essentially worthless, and

the ship's captains didn't provide this or other essentials. Half the

passengers on the Mayflower either died en route, or before ever leaving the

ship. (The men who didn't have the fare had to sell themselves as indentured

servants. It took many of them years and years to be able to pay off the

debt and sign the coveted Freeman's Oath. Some died without ever gaining

their freedom. Yes, they were, in effect, made slaves in order to buy their

family's freedom from the restrictions imposed on them in the United

Kingdom.)

Susie