Maciej Ceglowski on the discovery, loss, and rediscovery of the cure for scurvy - http://idlewords.com/2010...
"Scurvy had been the leading killer of sailors on long ocean voyages; some ships experienced losses as high as 90% of their men. With the introduction of lemon juice, the British suddenly held a massive strategic advantage over their rivals, one they put to good use in the Napoleonic wars." - Private Sanjeev