749-1834

Scottish naval physician who introduced administering lemon juice to the British naval fleet, thus dramatically reducing the incidence of scurvy. A Scottish physician trained in Edinburgh, Blane became the physician to the fleet in 1781. In 1796 Blane's recommendation of rationing each sailor three-quarters of an ounce (20 ml) of lemon juice per day was adopted, and scurvy largely disappeared from the British fleet. As a result of these rations, often referred to as "lime juice," British seamen became known by the nickname "limeys." Blane was knighted in 1812.