In 1747 James Lind conducted one of the first placebo controlled clinical trials on record when he tested 6 groups of sailors suffering from scurvy, with six different treatment regimens. Only oranges, lemons and limes were effective. Thereafter, British ships began carrying barrels of limes (when available) to prevent scurvy. Thus, in ports and countries around the world the English came to be known as ‘Limeys’.

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