Front page of A Treatise of the Scurvy by Scottish physician James Lind, published in 1757. Lind began his medical career as surgeon's mate in the British Navy. He became interested in the cause and treatment of scurvy, a severe problem amongst sailors on long sea voyages. His nutritional experiments on a crew of seamen with scurvy showed that fruit in the diet, especially citrus fruit, would prevent the disease. It was some time before his recommendations were adopted by the navy, although Captain Cook ensured his crew received fruit in their diet, to good effect. Lind also worked for improved hygiene, and the use of distilled sea water as a source of fresh water at sea