Poxed and Scurvied: the Story of Sickness & Health at Sea by Kevin Brown

Poxed and Scurvied: the Story of Sickness & Health at Sea by Kevin Brown

When European sailors began to explore the rest of the world, the problem of keeping healthy on such long voyages became acute. Malnourishment and crowded conditions bred disease, but they also carried epidemics that decimated the indigenous populations they encountered - and brought back new diseases like syphilis. As navies developed, the well-being of crews became a dominant factor in the success of naval operations, so it is no surprise that the Royal Navy led the way in shipboard medical provision, and sponsored many of the advances in diet and hygiene which by the Napoleonic Wars gave its fleets a significant advantage over all its enemies. These improvements trickled down to the merchant service, but the book also looks at two particularly harsh maritime environments, the slave trade and emigrant ships, both of which required special medical arrangements. Eventually, the struggle to improve the fitness of seamen became a national concern, manifest in a series of far-reaching - and sometimes bizarre - public health measures, generally directed against the effects of drunkenness and the pox. In this way, as in many others, an attempt to address the specific needs of the seafarer developed wider implications for society as a whole. It also produced scientific breakthroughs that were a universal benefit, so far from being a narrow study of medicine at sea, this book provides a fascinating picture of social improvement.

Kevin brown fills in the gap in an extremely well researched examination of how sailors were kept healthy at seaBrown's expertise is reflected in previous works on the discovery of penicillin and the history of syphilis. In Poxed and Scurvied, he offers a vivid and detailed explanation of the centuries - old problem of sickness at sea and attempts to diagnose and overcome the maladies common to sailors. - The Historian, Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781848320635
ISBN 10	1848320639
Title	Poxed and Scurvied: the Story of Sickness & Health at Sea
Author	Kevin Brown
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Year published	2011-07-01
Number of pages	256
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable