Possible Clues:

• Disease caused by lack of Vitamin C
• Disease due to lack of vitamin C
• Illness caused by lack of vitamin C
• Having the bends at sea, originally a problem for many a sailor?
• Disease of the most contemptible kind
• Disease from lack of vitamin C
• Disease once associated with poorly-nourished sailors
• Disease from lack of vitamin C - or dishonourable as knave may be
• Society - in short what is it? Contemptible!
• Southern scoundrel, very heartless and despicable