A review by read_all_nite
Scurvy: How a Surgeon, a Mariner, and a Gentlemen Solved the Greatest Medical Mystery of the Age of Sail by Stephen R. Bown

4.0

I am so glad I never had to sail long distances in the 17th century, because scruvy was really, awfully, horribly bad, and if you were a sailor in the 17th century, chances were, you'd probably get it. But, as fate would have it: Mystery solved! Suck enough lemons and you'll never get scurvy! I loved this book for its seafaring history and the random asides about the origins of certain words that we would normally just not associate with seafaring--quick examples: "pressed into service," "slush fund," and "giving someone a start." Gee Whiz. Who knew? I love that sort of OED stuff. But the main focus of the book, the discovery of the cause of scurvy, is a remarkable medical detective story in itself. So, avast ye, matey, and go suck a lemon.