Scurvy.

This is a disease long known, which formerly proved exceed­
ingly destructive, both in cities and among armies, and it was the
bane of ocean voyages, particularly the long ones which were
inevitable before the application of steam to navigation. This disease
caused enormous loss of life in the English and French armies dur­
ing the war of the Crimea ; and the United States forces were
materially weakened by it during the war with Mexico. At present
the disease is quite controllable, and has lost the terrors which it
formerly inspired. It now occurs only as the result of ignorance or
neglect to comply with known rules of health.

Symptoms*—The characteristic features which mark the onset
of the disease are usually preceded for several weeks by general
languor and weakness ; the patient is listless and indisposed to exer­
tion, mental or physical ; he loses flesh, becomes pallid, the appetite
fails, and digestion is impaired. The first symptoms are swelling of
the gums, which become quite spongy in texture and bleed upon
the slightest pressure, or even spontaneously ; the gums are espe­
cially swollen and spongy around the teeth, and these become loose
and fall out, or may remain sticking in the food. Meanwhile blood
may escape also from other mucous membranes, from the nostrils,
the chest and the bowels; slight hemorrhages, too, occur in the skin
forming reddish spots of varying size, which subsequently undergo
the usual changes of color observed in ’’black and blue” spots ; these
spots are produced spontaneously, and are formed whenever even
the slightest bruise is inflicted upon the skin.

In a short time the body becomes somewhat swollen, especially
the feet, ankles and face. The patient complains of pain, chiefly in
the lower limbs, but also in the small of the back and loins. The
muscles of the legs become hard and swollen. The depressions in
the skin of the thigh, which indicate the hollows between the muscles,
are often streaked with blood ; slight pressure over the lower limbs
usually causes considerable pain. The blood, which has escaped
into the spaces between the muscles, sometimes interferes seriously
with the movements of the patient, who is therefore compelled to
seek comfort in the recumbe’nt posture. In fact, after a few days
the patient’s strength is so much reduced that he can walk with diffi­
culty, if at all. He is short of breath and exhausted by the slightest
exertion. In extreme cases, indeed, the attempt to rise or to walk
induces fainting, or even serious collapse. The eyesight becomes
impaired, so that the patient may be practically blind. The mental
faculties usually remain natural, though delirium may finally occur.
The lips become almost as blanched as the skin, and the eyes some­
times present a curious and startling appearance, because the part
that is naturally white is thickly streaked with red, while the red
membrane of the lid has become quite white.

Scurvy is to­day a comparatively unimportant, because easily
controlled, disease, and the cases are rare in which the patient can­
not be restored to health by proper treatment, however exhausted
and pallid he may be. Under certain conditions, where it is im­
possible to obtain the necessary remedies, however, scurvy is still
a fatal disease. Even during the late civil war in America, very
many soldiers became victims to it.

Treatment.— The treatment of scurvy consists in the adop­
tion of those measures which, if earlier used, prevent the disease
entirely. It is now pretty generally known that the disease results
from lack of vegetable food, or perhaps it would better to say, of
fresh food. It is only in the absence of such supplies that the
disease occurs ; a fact which accounts for its especial prevalance on
military and naval expeditions, upon long sea voyages, etc. If the
patient be not yet extremely exhausted, no other treatment is
necessary than a reasonably abundant supply of fruits and
vegetables. Flesh is, of course, not injurious, and may be taken in
proper quantities in order to promote the strength. During sea­
sons when it is impossible to obtain fresh vegetables, an excellent
substitute will be found in lemon juice, which may be taken in such
quantities as the stomach can endure, say at least three ounces daily.
If lemon juice also be unobtainable, good can be derived from an
abundant supply of fresh meat, though the patient’s improvement
under this treatment will be by no means so rapid.

If the patient be much exhausted when treatment is com­
menced, caution must be exercised in permitting him fruits and
vegetables, since the stomach will be unable to retain as much as
he will desire to eat. In such cases small quantities of fruits and
vegetables may be permitted at short intervals, the amount being
increased as rapidly as the patient’s digestive powers will permit.
Such cases of extreme exhaustion will be benefited by alcoholic
stimulants, especially wines. The condition of the gums can be
improved by gently rinsing the mouth with a solution of tannic acid
in glycerine and water (one drachm of the acid to two ounces
each of glycerine and wrater); or alum may be dissolved in brandy
and water.

Since the origin of scurvy is thus known, it is desirable to
adopt such precautions as will prevent the disease, rather than to
wait for a chance of curing it. It is now generally understood
that any expedition which will be deprived of opportunities for
obtaining fresh food, should be amply supplied with the best pos­
sible substitutes for it. Experience has shown that the best pos­
sible substitute is potatoes eaten raw; onions, tomatoes, turnips, cab­
bage, corn, apples, sauerkraut, are all valuable. Yet for long voyages,
the most convenient of the reliable preparations is, of course, lemon
juice. A daily allowance of one to two ounces of fresh lemon
juice has been amply proven by the experience of naval expeditions
to prevent the outbreak of scurvy.

But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy!

Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.