Captain Scott and the tale of knowledge versus understanding

Inspired by the podcast Cautionary Tales podcast by Tim Harford, South Pole Race: When Limeys Get Scurvy

The heroic age of Antarctic exploration witnessed some of the most remarkable feats of human endurance and determination. Among the prominent figures of this era, Captain Robert Falcon Scott stands out as a symbol of unwavering courage in the face of unimaginable adversity. His ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-1913, while not achieving its ultimate goal of reaching the South Pole first, left a lasting legacy in the annals of exploration. Yet, it is also a stark reminder of how knowledge and understanding can often be two very different things, particularly when it comes to the enigmatic scourge of scurvy. An infamous scourge of sailors whose riddle had been all but solved in clinical trials 165 years earlier.

In this blog post, we will delve into the story of Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition and how the misunderstanding of scurvy's causes serves as a compelling example of the disconnect between knowledge and understanding.

The Terra Nova Expedition

Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-1913 was a daring and ambitious mission to reach the South Pole. Scott and his team faced extreme conditions, uncharted terrain, and the ever-present threat of death in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Their journey to the pole was marked by gruelling hardships, including frostbite, exhaustion, and dwindling supplies.

One of the most significant challenges they faced was the relentless and mysterious scourge of scurvy. Scurvy is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, and its symptoms include weakness, fatigue, swollen gums, joint pain, and death if left untreated. While we now understand the essential role of vitamin C in preventing scurvy, the expedition members were unaware of this crucial connection.

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Scurvy: The Misunderstood Scourge

In 1747, whilst aboard a ship called the Salisbury, physician James Lind became the first person ever to conduct a controlled clinical trial to try and find the reason why so many sailors were dying in terrible circumstances after being at sea for long periods of time.

Lind isolated pairs of scurvy patients and treated them with different potential remedies, one being oranges and lemons. Those taking the oranges and lemons recovered quickly in comparison to the other treatments.

While Lind concluded that the oranges and lemons had been the most effective cure, it was another 50 years before the British Navy made lemon juice compulsory for sailors. Even then, the prevailing belief was that something within the fruit was acting as a curing agent as opposed to the omission of something in the sailor’s diet causing the disease.

This lack of ‘understanding’ resulted in an ineffective application of the ‘knowledge’ obtained by Lind. The British navy boiled lemons to preserve them, removing the vitamin C. As they were deemed so similar, and cheaper to produce, they then replaced lemons with limes not knowing that limes contain significantly less vitamin C than lemons.

Due to improvements in sailors' diets and technological improvements resulting in shorter journey times, the futility of the British Navy’s lime ration was largely undiscovered. The reduction in scurvy cases due to circumstance over proven remedies further reinforced belief in limes as a successful preventative measure against scurvy, and also helped earn British sailors the moniker of ‘limeys’.

The Misguided Diet

By the time of Scott's expedition, the understanding of scurvy had become shrouded in misconceptions and misinformation. While the plague of scurvy on sailors had reduced circumstantially, it was not effectively understood within the exploration teams aiming to reach the poles who were exposed to similar conditions without access to vitamin C. Many believed scurvy was a result of factors such as cold temperatures, damp conditions, and poor hygiene. Some even attributed it to the consumption of tainted or spoiled foods.

Lime juice had started to become replaced with the prevailing belief that fresh meat and vegetables were the only essential measure for preventing scurvy. Accordingly, Scott's expedition was well-stocked with a variety of these perishable items, including pony meat and seal blubber

Captain Scott and his team diligently adhered to their belief in a balanced diet rich in fresh meat and other provisions. They hunted seals and penguins, and they brought with them tinned goods, biscuits, and other preserved foods. However, despite their best efforts to maintain a varied diet, scurvy continued to afflict the crew.

The source of the misunderstanding lay in the fact that while fresh meat and vegetables do contain vitamin C, this crucial nutrient is rapidly destroyed by exposure to air, heat, and time. The expedition members' diet, although diverse, lacked an adequate source of vitamin C. Scurvy is a cruel disease, often showing few symptoms beyond a critical point. It would not be noticeable that the party would be contracting the disease through a deficiency in their diet until it was too late. As Scott’s expedition party progressed, their bodies depleted their vitamin C reserves, leading to the onset of scurvy symptoms.

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The Quest for a Solution

As scurvy ravaged the Terra Nova Expedition, Captain Scott and his team desperately searched for a solution. They tried various remedies, including the consumption of raw seal liver, as they believed it contained an antidote to scurvy. Tragically, these attempts proved futile, and the condition of the crew continued to deteriorate.

It was not until the very end of the expedition when rescue parties discovered the bodies of Scott and his companions, that the true cause of scurvy was revealed. Alongside their remains were caches of tinned foods, which contained an ample supply of vitamin C. The irony was that the solution to scurvy had been in their possession all along, hidden in plain sight.

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The Disconnect Between Knowledge and Understanding

The tragic tale of Captain Scott's Terra Nova Expedition exemplifies the profound disconnect between knowledge and understanding. The explorers had access to the knowledge that scurvy could be prevented by consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, yet they lacked the understanding of why this was the case. This lack of understanding led to their reliance on perishable foods that had lost their vitamin C content over time, ultimately contributing to their suffering.

This disconnect is not limited to the past; it continues to be relevant in various aspects of our lives. It serves as a poignant reminder that possessing knowledge does not always equate to a deep understanding of the subject matter. In the case of scurvy, the explorers had the knowledge of the importance of vitamin C, but their lack of understanding about its properties and susceptibility to degradation led to dire consequences.

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The Evolution of Understanding

Following the tragedy of the Terra Nova Expedition and other similar experiences, scientific understanding of scurvy gradually improved. It was eventually recognized that vitamin C was the key to preventing and curing scurvy. This insight revolutionised nutrition and led to the development of dietary guidelines to ensure an adequate intake of essential nutrients.

Today, our understanding of scurvy is well-founded, and its prevention is straightforward. Vitamin C is readily available in various forms, from fresh fruits and vegetables to supplements. The tragic misunderstandings of the past have been replaced by a wealth of scientific knowledge that empowers us to prevent and treat scurvy effectively.

Conclusion

In all walks of life, this story serves as a reminder to trade knowledge between stakeholders to improve understanding.

Any industry undertaking scientific testing, presentation of results and their findings should be particularly inclined to keep this in mind.

As engineers, we have a duty to share and present knowledge in such a way that it improves understanding for all. In the end, the story of scurvy is not just a historical anecdote; it is a powerful lesson about the importance of continuous learning and a reminder that knowledge alone may not be enough. Understanding the underlying principles and mechanisms behind any phenomenon is essential for making informed decisions and achieving success in any endeavour. Captain Scott and his companions paid a heavy price for this disconnect, but their legacy has helped illuminate the path toward a deeper understanding of the world around us.