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Nelson and His Navy - Scurvy

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The subject of scurvy cannot be mentioned without the name of Sir Gilbert Blane (1749-1834) cropping up. He went to sea with Rodney in 1779 and was eventually appointed physician to the fleet. It was his recommendations on the use of lemon juice in 1793 which led to a better understanding of the condition and its almost complete eradication in the fleet by 1800. There follows an excerpt from a letter of his to the Admiralty setting out his ideas for improving the health of the Fleet.

"First: I hardly ever knew a ship's company become sickly which was well regulated in point of cleanliness and dryness...I have never found seamen more unhealthy than other men. The neglect of such attentions is a never-failing cause of sickness.

Secondly, Scurvy is one of the principal diseases with which seamen are afflicted; and this may be infallibly prevented, or cured by vegetables and fruit, particularly oranges, lemons and limes. I am well convinced that more men would be saved by a purveyance of fruit and vegetables than could be raised by double the expense and trouble employed on the imprest service; so that policy, as well as humanity, concur in recommending it. Every fifty oranges or lemons might be considered as a hand to the fleet, inasmuch as the health, and perhaps the life of a man would be thereby saved."

Blane goes on to list other reforms he thinks should be adopted such as the replacement of the rum ration with one of wine. He later espoused porter or spruce beer. He also advocates a system of medical care both on board and shore.

He finally ends his letter with this chilling statistic.

"I beg leave to call to mind that 1518 deaths from disease, besides 350 invalids, in 12,109 men, in the course of one year is an alarming waste of British seamen, being a number that would man three of his Majesty's ships of the line."