These widespread practices in the Wild West show how wild the times really were

By YEET MAGAZINE | Updated 1408 GMT (2208 HKT) September 29, 2021

Suck a lemon

Scurvy is a disease more strongly associated with sailors on long voyages at sea, but it has not spared the inhabitants of the Old West.

To avoid it easily, you need to consume enough vitamin C, hence the advice to suck a lemon. Regardless, some of those who arrived by sea in the California gold fields had not had sources of vitamin C for long periods of time. It is therefore not surprising that they were victims of unpleasant episodes of debilitating scurvy resulting in the most serious cases by loosening of the teeth, purulent gums, hemorrhages and eventually death.