| Sailors' diets were deficient in vitamin C. Although doctors did not know about vitamins it was suggested that the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables was the cause of the problem. This idea was tested by giving some sailors limes.
Doctors in Paris found that babies from well-off families were surviving less well than babies from poorer families. They suggested this was because their diet consisted of bread and butter and boiled milk, whereas the poorer babies were fed potatoes and gravy, which contained some vitamin C. When doctors suggested diets containing cooked potato, lemon juice or fresh milk, the survival rate improved.
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