Scurvy

Scurvy, disease of human beings caused by a prolonged deficiency of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in the diet. It is characterized by progressive bodily weakness, spongy and inflamed gums, loose teeth, swollen and tender joints, and a tendency toward ecchymosis, or absorption by the tissues of blood from ruptured blood vessels. Anemia often occurs as a direct result of such hemorrhage. Lack of vitamin C in the diet prevents the formation of connective tissues that hold the body's structures together, such as tendons, ligaments, bone, dentin, and cartilage. The disease may appear in adults after about six months of complete lack of vitamin C.