[History of scurvy therapy and the injustice done to Dr. Maksim Nikolić-Miskovićev of Sremski Karlovci in the 19th century].

This paper reviews historical aspects regarding medical knowledge on scurvy, vitamin C deficiency, and its etiological factors. This disease used to affect naval-crews on long lasting sea voyages, soldiers during times of war and the poor. Although efficient therapy of scurvy (fresh vegetables, lemon juice) was known in the mid-18th century, its etiology was not known. It was believed to be caused by the cold, moist winds, unhealthy evaporations, malnutrition and it was called "alkaline disease". It was established that acid substances like lemon juice, had beneficial effects on the disease. However, it was soon generally accepted that it was caused by deficient diet. In 1830, Dr. John Elliotson, Professor of Medicine at London University supported this opinion. In 1928, Albert Szent Gyordyi, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Szeged and Budapest Universities, isolated vitamin C from green pepper, vegetable proved to be rich with vitamin C. Due to this discovery, and some discoveries regarding biological processes, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine and physiology in 1937. Back in 1864, a military doctor in Belgrade, Dr. Maksim Nikolić-Miskovićev from Sremski Karlovci, wrote to Ministry of Defence of the Serbian Principality. He informed the authorities about a successful, quick and cheap cure for scurvy-pepper juice. A medical board headed by Dr. Vladan Dordević was formed to evaluate his discovery. Dr. Nikolić-Miskovićev was underestimated and laughed at, and his discovery was completely forgotten. The aim of this paper was to correct injustice done to Dr. Maksim Nikolić-Miskovićev.