Scurvy, Vaccination and Hospitals

Citrus fruits perfect for treating Scurvy

As this week saw the celebration of International Nurses day, on 12th May, this weeks blog takes a look at some medical history. During the 18th Century there were many innovations in medicine and …

Source:  Scurvy, Vaccination and Hospitals

Almost 6000 years old case of Scurvy discovered in Egypt

Dr. Mamdouh El Damaty, minister of antiquities announced today the discovery of the first case of Scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency) in ancient Egypt.

AKAP (Aswan-Kom Ombo archaeological project) directed by Dr. Maria Carmela Gatto and Dr. Antonio Curci discovered a skeleton of a child who died younger than one year old was buried in predynastic Nag Quarmila settlement. (3600-3800  BC)…

Source: Luxor Times

‘Old Grog’

Admiral Edward “Old Grog” Vernon. Portrait by Thomas Gainsborough [Wikipedia]

The sea is in my blood from generations of sailors on my father’s side, including Admiral Edward Vernon, as in the Battle of Portobello (or Porto Bello), Panama, in 1739. The Admiral’s nickname, ‘Old Grog’, was coined because of the coat of ‘grogram’ that he wore, and ‘grog’ then came to mean the watered-down rum he instigated; this was not to stop his sailors getting drunk but to keep the water as fresh as it could be.  He also introduced lemon or lime juice to stave off scurvy. Vernon’s crew were known to be much healthier than others though the link between vitamin C and good health was not proved until later. The practice was later adopted throughout the Royal Navy.

I had no idea until I did some research for a post on First Night Design that my forebear had been painted by Thomas Gainsborough. It was a delightful discovery.

© Sarah Vernon