> But unless you already understand and believe in the vitamin model of nutrition, the notion of a trace substance that exists both in fresh limes and bear kidneys, but is absent from a cask of lime juice because you happened to prepare it in a copper vessel, begins to sound pretty contrived.

Good point, and well written.

I must admit I didn't know about Holst and Frølich's work either.

Not a short read. But very interesting. And with many lessons both applicable to the modern day, and having nothing to do with scurvy.