James Lind
... Prior to James Lind¡¦s discovery of a cure, treatments of scurvy included keeping clean, dry and warm, drinking salt water, wine, sparkling vinegar, bleeding 8 ounces of blood from the arm, cooking food in iron boilers instead of copper, and eating rats. ... Historical Background On October 4, 1716, James Lind was born in Edinburgh, England. He was the son to Margaret and James Lind. As a young boy, Lind was fluent in Latin, the language that was generally used by scientists and scholars at that time. Lind was enthralled by history, especially that of ancient Greece. At the age of 15, Lind decided to become a doctor. One can presume that Lind¡¦s decision to become a doctor was influenced by that fact that his uncle became a very successful surgeon. Consequently, Lind became the apprentice of George Langlands, a well-known Edinburgh physician. As an apprentice, Lind started out his medical career by sweeping floors, washing windows, tending fires, carrying coal, and other such chores. However, during that time, Lind was also studying medical textbooks, particularly those written by Hippocrates. Over the years, through observing Langlands work, Lind began learning the symptoms of various diseases. As Lind learned more over the 8 years of his apprenticeship, his responsibilities grew as well.