Its a vitamin C deficiency

scurvy is a disease when the body doesn't get enough vitamin C. it commonly afflicted sailors in the past as they travelled on long sea voyages because their diet had very little fruit and veggies in it. it was solved by including limes in their diet aboard ships.

It is becoming more prevalent again, along with other vitamin deficiency diseases, because many people do not eat enough vegetables and fruit. in our society it is easier to grab a big mac, than an orange or apple.

The symptoms include sores on the body, soft gums, depression, lethargy and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes.

Scurvy is well known as a problem sailors had when they were out to sea, as they had a diet which lacked vitamin C, due to not being able to store fruit and veg for long periods. It's syptoms included swollen and bleeding gums and loose teeth, brittle hair and nails, tiredness, problem in the joints and I expect many more problems.

Scurvy is the lack of vitamin c. very rare today.

Scurvy (N.Lat. scorbutus) is a disease that results from insufficient intake of vitamin C, which is required for correct collagen synthesis in humans. the scientific name of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the latin name of scurvy, scorbutus. Scurvy leads to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes. the spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized.

Swollen gums, teeth falling out, horrible scabs, painful joints. Scurvy is a vitamin C deficiency. many years ago sailors used to suffer from it because of the lack of variety in their diets. Sailors who ate limes (good source of vit c) on their voyages were found to be much more healthy. this is why the americans sometimes refer to us as 'limeys' (people emigrating there ate them on the boat over).

Scurvy is a deficiency disease. it is common among children and is often mistaken for rheumatism, rickets or paralysis.
It is caused by lack of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. Inadequate intake of fresh fruit and vegetables can lead to this condition. the onset of scurvy is gradual with the first signs being exhaustion and general weakness. At the later stages, there is bleeding of the gums.
Another cause of scurvy is stress which increases the utilization of ascorbic acid.Potatoes are also regarded as an excellent food remedy for scurvy.

Scurvy (N.Lat. scorbutus) is a disease that results from insufficient intake of vitamin C, which is required for correct collagen synthesis in humans. the scientific name of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the latin name of scurvy, scorbutus. Scurvy leads to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes. the spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized.

Scurvy was at one time common among sailors whose ships were out to sea longer than perishable fruits and vegetables could be stored and by soldiers who were similarly separated from these foods for extended periods. it was described by Hippocrates (c. 460 BC–c. 380 BC). Its cause and cure has been known in many native cultures since prehistory. For example, in 1536, the French explorer Jacques Cartier, exploring the St. Lawrence River, used the local natives' knowledge to save his men who were dying of scurvy. He boiled the needles of the arbor vitae tree to make a tea that was later shown to contain 50 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. [1] [2]

However it was a Scottish captain in the British Royal Navy, James Lind (1716 – 1794) who first proved it could be treated with citrus fruit in experiments he described in his 1753 book, "A Treatise of the Scurvy".

In infants, scurvy is sometimes referred to as Barlow's Disease, named after Sir Thomas Barlow (1845-1945), a British physician who described it. Barlow's disease is different from Barlow's syndrome.

Scurvy is also known as Moeller's disease and Cheadle's disease.

Signs and Symptoms
Scurvy may cause gingival inflammation and hemorrhaging, a condition termed scorbutic gums.
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Scurvy may cause gingival inflammation and hemorrhaging, a condition termed scorbutic gums.

Signs include:

* black-and-blue spots or marks on the skin, especially on the legs
* spongy gums or other gum disease
* bleeding from mucous membranes
* poor healing of wounds and bruises
* hair thinning or baldness (Telogen Effluvium)
* anaemia
* pallor
* partial immobility

Symptoms include:

* joint pain
* depression

It takes about three months of vitamin C deprivation for the symptoms of scurvy to manifest.