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Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C. Sailors in the 1700 and 1800's went on long voyages where fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C were not available to them because these foods would rot.

The diet of these sailors consisted mainly of cured meats and biscuits. Today this disease is nearly obsolete due to modern nutrition, but it was the number one killer of sailors from the 1500-1800's.

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14y ago

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