Scurvy, Past and Present by Alfred F. Hess

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Scurvy, Past and Present by Alfred F. Hess

(7 User reviews) 772

By Emma Reed Posted on Mar 18, 2026

In Category - Animals

Authors: Hess, Alfred F., 1875-1933 Published By : Hess, Alfred F., 1875-1933

Book Language: English

Okay, hear me out. I just read a book about scurvy, and it's way more gripping than it sounds. You know scurvy as that old-timey sailor disease, right? But here's the thing: in the 1920s, when this book was written, doctors were still seeing kids in New York City dying from it. That's the wild hook. Alfred F. Hess, a real doctor, was on a mission to figure out why a supposedly 'solved' disease was still haunting a modern city. The book isn't just a dry history lesson. It's his detective story. He digs through old ship logs and medical reports, following the clues that finally led to the discovery of vitamin C. But then he slams you with the present-day reality: fresh oranges and lemons were right there, yet people were still getting sick. It makes you ask the same question he did: How could we know the cure and still fail to use it? It's a short, fascinating look at how medical knowledge can get lost, ignored, or just fail to reach the people who need it most.

File: Scurvy, Past and Present by Alfred F. Hess

Let's be honest, a book titled Scurvy, Past and Present doesn't scream 'page-turner.' But trust me, it pulls you in. Alfred Hess wasn't a historian looking back; he was a pediatrician in the 1920s trying to solve a real-time medical mystery playing out in his own hospital wards.

The Story

The book has two main threads. First, Hess acts like a medical detective, tracing scurvy's brutal history. He walks you through the grim tales from long sea voyages, where gums bled and old wounds reopened. He shows how, through trial and tragic error, sailors and doctors slowly linked the disease to a lack of fresh food. The big 'aha!' moment—the discovery of citrus as a cure—feels like a victory.

Then, he hits you with the twist. The second thread is his own work in New York City. He describes treating infants with swollen limbs, irritability, and bleeding gums—full-blown scurvy in the 20th century. The shock isn't that the disease existed, but that it existed after we knew exactly how to prevent it. Hess details his research proving these babies lacked vitamin C, often because they were fed pasteurized or condensed milk with no supplement. The core of the story is this jarring gap between knowing a cure and actually applying it.

Why You Should Read It

This book stuck with me because it's about human error, not just biology. Hess is frustrated and passionate on the page. You feel his urgency as he argues that scientific discovery means nothing if it doesn't change everyday practice. It's a powerful reminder that solving a problem in a lab is only half the battle. The other half is fighting inertia, economics, and misinformation to get that solution into people's hands. Reading about babies suffering from a completely preventable disease in a modern city is sobering and makes you look at today's health gaps in a new light.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves medical history, true detective stories, or books that make you think about how society uses (or fails to use) knowledge. It's short, direct, and packed with a surprising amount of drama. Don't expect a light narrative; expect a compelling case study from a doctor on a mission, and you'll be fascinated.