Melani: I'm glad that you Victory guide didn't know that story, 'cos it's not true. Nelson's blood refers to rum, and his body was in brandy, at least until Gibraltar when it was transferred into spirits of wine (alcohol). A Marine sentry was also posted, just as there was always one outside the spirit room. Mind you, it was a Victory guide that told me that a 'square meal' was so called because it was served on a square plate, which is also untrue.

On the earlier subject of lemon juice, it was not used as a preventative for scurvy at this time. It was issued by the surgeon to sailors who presented the symptoms of scurvy, and so it was a medicine. It was thought by some that it was the acidic nature that cured/prevented scurvy, and because limes were avaiable from English growers in the West Indies, limes would be cheaper and more effective. Unfortunately neither was true! Compulsory lime juice rations in the Royal Navy date from the early 1860s and extended to all British Sailors by the Merchant Shipping Act 1867.

Most people think that the diet of Nelson's sailors was particularly poor. Fresh meat and vegetables were issued in harbour and would last the first two weeks or so of a voyage. Ships were stored for up to six months and these stores were used after the fresh rations were used up. Fleets on blockade duty had fresh stores sent out to them to vary the diet, and the purser could buy fresh rations (if available) when the ship put into any port temporarily. The preserved stores of biscuit, salt meat, dried peas, oatmeal, cheese, butter, suet, flour, raisins and small beer (nearly a gallon a day!), or wine or spirits provided up to 5000 calories a day!