The study of disease and pathology forms an inseparable union with research in nutrition. A nutrition laboratory usually devotes part of its attention to the production and cure of disease. Four centuries ago when men were discovering the first vitamin, namely C, it was found that men suffered from bleeding gums, loose teeth and failure of broken bones to mend. If such men were given foods containing vitamin C such as sorrel, scurvy grass, lime juice or pine needle tea, it was found that these symptoms disappeared and the scurvy was cured.