[3]
When European sailors began to explore the world, keeping crews healthy on long voyages became an acute problem. As navies developed, the well-being of crews became a dominant factor in the success of naval operations, and the Royal Navy led the way in shipboard medicine, sponsoring many of the advances in diet and hygiene, which by the Napoleonic Wars gave its fleets a significant advantage over all its enemies. Eventually, the struggle to improve the fitness of seamen became a national concern, manifest in a series of far-reaching public health measures, generally directed against the effects of drunkenness and the pox.
Kevin Brown is the Curator of the Alexander Fleming Museum at St Mary's Hospital, in Paddington, England, and is the author of Penicillin Man and Fighting Fit.
Praise for Poxed and Scurvied
“…A vivid and detailed explanation of the centuries-old problem of sickness at sea…exceptional work.”
— The Historian, Volume 74, No. 4
“Poxed and Scurvied is an impressive work in many respects…While at times Poxed and Scurvied reads as two books – one on the medical/health history of the Royal Navy, and another on the conditions on board passenger transports (whether slave, emigrant or wealthy cruise passenger) – this is yet an informative and entertaining book.”
— International Journal of Maritime History, December 2011
“This book could be read by anyone interested in medical history or maritime medicine regardless of age. The topics are intriguing, the research is thorough, and the book is a captivating read.”
— Nautical Research Journal, Spring 2012
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]