![[james-lind.jpg]] James Lind was an 18th-century [[Scottish]] [[physician]] who discovered that citrus fruits could prevent [[scurvy]] – saving countless sailors from a miserable, painful death. - In [[1747]], he conducted one of the first-ever clinical trials aboard a [[Royal Navy]] ship, giving scurvy-stricken sailors different dietary treatments. The ones who ate oranges and lemons recovered remarkably fast. - At the time, scurvy was a massive problem for sailors on long voyages, causing swollen gums, rotting teeth, and even death, but no one knew why. - Despite Lind’s findings, it took the British Navy nearly 50 years to adopt citrus as a standard ration – bureaucracy moves slowly, even when lives are at stake. - Thanks to this discovery, British sailors became known as "limeys" because they carried lime juice (though lemons were more effective, limes were cheaper). - Lind also wrote a book called *A Treatise of the Scurvy* in 1753. - He also argued for better general conditions for sailors. Such as better ventilation, below-deck fumigation, and improved cleanliness of sailors' bodies, clothing and bedding. *** Created: [[2024-12-13]]