Joe, you are correct that any number of causes could be blamed for a particular illness. The primary effect of scurvy, once so prominent in the world's various Navies, is tooth loss. Neither Uncle Frank nor Uncle Alex complained of dental problems. I don't remember where I read the article about eye diseases, but it did reference WTBS POW experience as a causative factor, and Alex did put it in his pension request, which was signed by his company commander, Captain James Lile Lemon, who was at Point Lookout after his capture in the attack on Knoxville, where Col. S.Z. Ruff was killed. The Navy always strongly suggested we wear sunglasses at sea, which was contraindicated for us Photographers Mates, who had to see the light in its true shade and brightness. My Otometrist told me a possible cause of my cataracts was excessive exposure to bright sun light. I don't suppose we'll ever know exactly what made Alex's eyes go bad, but exposure to viral pathogens as a POW is certainly a possibility. BTW, I'm not a forensic scientist either. Stan