lime juice

[Bill Morrison]

That's the one Doc, Rose's Lime Juice. It went well with Tennent's Lager very refreshing. The salt tablets were essential in the E.R. chocolate coated and came in an aluminium tube as I recall.

[Tony Taylor]

I used to get cramp if salt level in bloodstream fell ,

Rob,
I occasionally get cramps in thigh during night, I find tonic water to effective at helping relieve it.

[Ken Norton]

It's the quinine thats the helper

[Chris Allman]

I remember in L+H they ran out of cordials and I ended up with BoT Lime Juice - Arggg one teaspoon to a pint of water was just about manageable .................... seem to remember it was in a very strange looking bottle too.

[j.sabourn]

As we all know it was a BOT requirement and think it was on the feeding scale along with your two eggs a week. Although I believe was only an entitlement when the fresh vegetables ran out. Today with the deep freeze on most ships , would be surprised to see much interest in carrying. Was handy in washing down the salt tablets which today are a no no also. JWS

[happy daze john in oz]

On the NZSC Paproa we had buckets of the stuff, deck and engine drank most of it.

But in catering we found a better use, scrub the galley deck with it, comes up a treat, and on port hole brass better than Brasso.

Tonic water for cramp treatment I find is better when some Gin is added to it.

[Doc Vernon]

Cramp treatments is best done with Magnesium Tablets and mak esure you get enough supply of Potassium as well that is essential. Potatoes are very good!
Cheers

Casle Lager with a Dash of Roses Lime is Fantastic as well.

[j.sabourn]

That’s probably why everyone who sailed with Cappy got cramp then. Probably threw the best part of the spud away when he made the effort to peel them. Cheers JS

[Lewis McColl]

Last time I saw BOT lime juice was in the 70's Also I never saw a salt tablet on a ship since the 90's. Isotonic drinks and rehydration sachets were the norm also fruit juices. As said salt tablets were killing us all. Another thing thankfully it was no longer a requirement for the 6 monthly Cholera injection.

[Colin Wood]

As a cadet remember being issued with a bottle which could be replaced when requested. On one vessel which shall remain nameless, we would find bottles of whisky, mostly Ballantines in our seaboots, which were kept in our bathroom which was unlocked, when loading whisky in Glasgow. On cold wet nights, or if not feeling too well, we consumed 1 part limejuice, 3 parts whisky in a pint mug topped up with hot water. You slept like a baby and woke up fit and well. Best herbal medicine I ever used.