MORBUS ANGLICUS Meaning and
Definition
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Morbus Anglicus is a Latin term that translates to "English disease." It refers to a historical medical condition that affected individuals, primarily sailors, in England during the late 15th to 17th centuries. This disease is now recognized as scurvy, a nutritional deficiency disorder caused by a lack of vitamin C.
Scurvy typically manifested in individuals who had limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamin C. Symptoms of morbus anglicus included fatigue, anemia, swollen and bleeding gums, joint pain, skin discoloration, and eventually, death if left untreated. The condition was prevalent among sailors who embarked on long voyages devoid of fresh produce.
Due to the significance of England's maritime activities during this period, where sailors and explorers traveled great distances, scurvy became closely associated with the English. The term "morbus anglicus" was therefore coined to signify this specific ailment and its connection to English sailors.
The understanding of vitamin C as the essential nutrient in preventing and treating scurvy came much later, in the 18th century, through the work of Scottish naval surgeon James Lind. His experiments with citrus fruits demonstrated their efficacy in curing scurvy, leading to the eventual eradication of morbus anglicus as a widespread disease.
Today, the term morbus anglicus persists as a historical reference, providing insight into the impact of nutritional deficiencies and the importance of a balanced diet.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MORBUS ANGLICUS
- norbus anglicus
- korbus anglicus
- jorbus anglicus
- mirbus anglicus
- mkrbus anglicus
- mlrbus anglicus
- mprbus anglicus
- m0rbus anglicus
- m9rbus anglicus
- moebus anglicus
- modbus anglicus
- mofbus anglicus
- motbus anglicus
- mo5bus anglicus
- mo4bus anglicus
- morvus anglicus
- mornus anglicus
- morhus anglicus
- morgus anglicus
- morbys anglicus
Etymology of MORBUS ANGLICUS
The term "morbus anglicus" has its roots in Latin. "Morbus" translates to "disease" or "sickness", and "anglicus" means "English". Therefore, "morbus anglicus" literally translates to "English disease" in Latin. It was used historically to refer to a specific disease, which is now known as syphilis. The term likely came about during the late 15th or early 16th century when syphilis spread throughout Europe and was associated with England. The origin of the term may reflect the perception that syphilis was brought to Europe by English soldiers returning from the New World.
