Scurvy

Question: How long does it take to contract scurvy? What amount of time would a person need to go without vitamin C to come down with scurvy?

Answer: 3 months

Question: Can someone today as an average American get scurvy from lack of vitamin C? What are the symptoms? Could you get a few without the full blown pirate scurvy?

Answer: Dear Gopher: Does the typical American you have in mind eat citrus fruit, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, bell peppers, and other fruits and vegetables, or does that American take supplements containing vitamin C (ascorbic acid - which means anti-scorbutus, scorbutus being scurvy)? Then he or she isn't likely to be plagued by scurvy, the end of which is death. Can a person have some symptoms and not others? I can't say. "Scurvy leads to the formation of spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from the mucous membranes. The spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized. In advanced scurvy there are open, suppurating wounds and loss of teeth." Sounds like it's worth avoiding! Hope you don't have any of those. Go in good health!

Question: What are all the symptoms of scurvy that you can think off? What are the causes of the deficiency of vitamin C that result in these symptoms? What foods when consumed in ones regular diet, can prevent scurvy and why? I would appreciate it if you do not just direct me to a website, without a proper explanation. Websites should only be used as reference, in case I have a problem accepting your answer.

Answer: The symptoms of scurvy is basically that of vitamin C deficiency, namely:- the breaking open of small blood vessels, the reddening and soreness of mouth and gum, bleeding of gums, bleeding in the eyes, loss of hair, loose teeth, cavity in the teeth, joint pains, pain in the bones, dry scaly skin and blood vessel damage which result in "pinpoint hemorrhages (bleeding) into the skin around the hair follicles. Other symptoms include general weakness, fluid retention (edema), depression, and anemia. Other symptoms include lack of energy, irritability, listlessness, swollen and tender joints, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, restlessness, poor digestion, and the tendency to bruise easily. Vitamin C deficiency causes poorly formed collagen (the protein which forms the basis of connective tissue) thus resulting in most of the above symptoms. Foods rich in vitamin C prevents scurvy. These foods are Oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, limes, lemons, guava, cantaloupe, parsley, passion fruit, mangoes, asparagus, avocado and papaya.

Question: How come modern day sailors don't have diseases such as scurvy? Sailors were affected scurvy up to 300 years ago but by why don't they still get it? (by 'it' I mean scurvy) Thank you in advance.

Answer: s was caused by lack of vit c when they sailed they carried limes because they lasted longer than oranges/grapefruit hence the calling of brits 'limey's', the scurrvy dogs! arrrr, enuf schoolin' lassie anotha' flaggon of ale wench! lest ye taste the the broad side of me cutlass and hang ye on me yard-arm

Question: Why did the sailors get scurvy? I've been reading around on the internet and many sites have suggested that frozen vegetables have just as much, if not a little less, nutrients than their fresh counterparts. If this is the case, then why did the sailors trying to find the northern passage in the past contact scurvy even though they had lemons that were frozen with them?

Answer: I believe this is what you were looking for: "In the Royal Navy's Arctic expeditions in the 19th century it was widely believed that scurvy was prevented by good hygiene on board ship, regular exercise, and maintaining the morale of the crew, rather than by a diet of fresh food, so that Navy expeditions continued to be plagued by scurvy even while fresh meat was well-known as a practical antiscorbutic among civilian whalers and explorers in the Arctic. At the time Robert Falcon Scott made his two expeditions to the Antarctic in the early 20th century, the prevailing theory was that scurvy was caused by "tainted" meat, particularly tinned meat."

Question: What is the cause of Scurvy and who suffered from it most? Seaman were particullarly prone to this disease, why?

Answer: Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin c, from fresh fruits and vegetables. Seamen were particularly prone to the disease because they had very little, if any, fresh fruit or vegetables on voyages.

Question: Has anybody had a guinea pig recover from scurvy? Hi my 4.5 year old guinea pig has scurvy. I just got her back from my ex, who she was living with for 6 months, and she was very ill, barely walking or eating. She has been on Vit C supplements for a few days and she looks to be feeling better, but she is still not walking around like her old self. I am wondering if anybody else has dealt with this before and could tell me what to expect regarding recovery. Thanks!

Answer: If my guinea pig has scurvy, how long will it take to get better? Recovery from deficiency usually requires a week of treatment. Give 50mg/kg once a day or Give 25mg/kg twice a day http://www.guinealynx.info/scurvy.html definetely read this site

Question: How was Scurvy treated in the Civil War? I need it for my social studies project. I've looked online but cant find anything. Thanks to anyone who helps!

Answer: In situations where fruit wasn't available, vinegar was sometimes used. Not positive, but that may have been the case.

Question: What was the cure for scurvy a long time ago? Like when pirates sailed the sea? Like herbal medicines or anything else, thanks!

Answer: A french captain once saved the lives of his men in pre-colony days who were sufferring from scurvy through help of the natives in Canada by boiling the pine needles of a certain local tree which happened to have vit c in it. But at sea it was mainly citrus fruits

Question: Can a Guinea Pig be cured if it has scurvy? Can a guinea pig be cured if it has scurvy? if so what can i do to cure it besides taking it to the vet first?

Answer: Curing your pig of scurvy depends on how deficient it is! I would start with foods high in Vitamin C such as Brocolli, Red Peppers(Capsicum), Kale, and fresh unchemically treated grasses. Fresh Fruit and Vege is essential for the daily required intake of Vitamin C that guinea pigs need along with good quality pellets such as Oxbow. Quartering a 100mg Vit C tablet and giving 25mg daily in a water bottle or hand feeding. Vitamin C tablets are not required for a healthy pig that does not have Scurvy.