Symptoms for scurvy:
Early symptoms:
1. Generally feeling unwell.
2. Fatigue.
3. Loss of appetite.
4. Nausea.
5. Diarrhoea.
6. Fever.
7. Painful joints and muscles.
Late symptoms:
1. Swollen, spongy and purplish gums that are prone to bleeding.
2. Loose teeth.
3. Bulginess of eyes.
4. Bleeding into the skin.
5. Scaly, dry and brownish skin.
6. Very dry hair that curls off and breaks off close to the skin.
7. Slow-healing sounds.
8. Opening of previously healed scars.
9. Bleeding into the joints and muscles.
10. Premature stopping of bone growth. ( in babies and children ).
Why is scurvy important in both anatomy and history?
Anatomy: Scurvy is a disease that affects the blood vessels, skin, and the body's healing process, resulting in anemia, hemorrhaging of the skin, and gum disease (gingivitis). Scurvy occurs when your diet is deficient in vitamin C.
History: James Lind is remembered as the man who helped to conquer a killer disease. His reported experiment on board a naval ship in 1747 showed that oranges and lemons were a cure for scurvy.