1934 — Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), international list #60, Mortality Statistics 1934 — 36

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 12-16-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

 –36  Bureau of the Census, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Mortality Statistics 1934, Table I, p. 14.    

Narrative Information

Medical News Today (Peter Crosta): “Scurvy is the name for a vitamin C deficiency. It can lead to anemia, debility, exhaustion, spontaneous bleeding, pain in the limbs, and especially the legs, swelling in some parts of the body, and sometimes ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth.

“Scurvy has been known since ancient Greek and Egyptian times. It is often associated with sailors in the 15th to 18th centuries, when long sea voyages made it hard to get a steady supply of fresh produce. Many died from the effects. t also occurred during the Irish potato famine in 1845 and the American Civil War. The most recent documented outbreak was in Afghanistan in 2002, following war and a drought.

“Modern cases of scurvy are rare, especially in places where enriched breads and cereals are available, but it can still affect people who do not consume enough vitamin C….

“Symptoms of scurvy result from severe vitamin C deficiency.

“They include bleeding sores, tooth loss, anemia, and a reduced rate of healing for injuries.

“It can be fatal if left untreated.

“Scurvy is treatable with oral or intravenous vitamin C supplements….”

Sources

Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce. Mortality Statistics 1934. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1936. Accessed 12-16-2024 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsushistorical/mortstatsh_1934.pdf

Costa, Peter. “Everything you need to know about scurvy.” Medical News Today, 12-5-2017 update. Accessed 7-2-2018 at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155758.php