May 2020 LSAT Section 3 Question 11

In the past, infants who were not breast-fed were fed cow's milk. Then doctors began advising that cow's milk fed to ...

LoganSkopp on July 1, 2022

Why is it not D?

The doctors told mother's to begin boiling the milk and then it led to an increase in scurvy among babies that drank cow milk. Wouldn't that mean they had no idea that boiled milk caused scurvy?

Create a free account to read and take part in forum discussions.

Already have an account? log in

Emil-Kunkin on July 2, 2022

Hi LoganSkopp,

We don't actually know that the doctors were unaware that boiling milk would lead to scurvy. While it is pretty well supported that the increase in scurvy was related to (and likely caused by) the change to boiled milk, we have no idea if the doctors knew what caused scurvy. Maybe the doctors knew that vitamin C causes scurvy, but did not know that boiling milk would diminish its vitamin c (in fact, we do not know that this is why boiling milk leads to scurvy).

Alternatively, it is possible the doctors were aware that scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency, and that boiling milk would lead to vitamin C deficiency, and still decided to recommend boiling. It is possible that doctors recommend a course of action that leads to a negative consequence (scurvy) if it avoids an even worse outcome (potentially fatal infections). Given that scurvy is easily treated with oranges, this also seems possible. So, we cannot conclude that docros were unaware of what causes scurvy.