- Scenario 3 -
Put yourself in the shoes of Captain Meriwether Lewis. Your expedition has been making its way slowly but steadily against the powerful current of the Missouri River. Today, however, many of the men are so sick that it is further slowing the expedition’s progress. Weakened by terrible abdominal cramps, the men are also inconvenienced by the sudden need to abandon the boat which they are rowing or towing to go relieve their bowels in the river or on the shore. Some of the men are also suffering from vomiting. First you must DIAGNOSE their illness so that you will know how to treat them.
COMMON MEDICAL PROBLEMS OF THE EXPEDITION
As you might imagine, Lewis and Clark and their men encountered a great many medical problems during their 29-month journey through the previously unexplored wilderness of the American West. Click on the link to Common Medical Problems of the Expedition to explore some of the more common problems they faced, symptoms and additional information. Use this table to help you with your DIAGNOSIS. When you think you know what was wrong with the men, move on to “Medical Technology at the Time of Lewis and Clark” to figure out how to treat them.
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AT THE TIME OF LEWIS AND CLARK
Lewis was not a doctor, but he did receive some medical training before the expedition from Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the most respected physicians of the time. However, as you will see, even among the best-trained physicians, medical technology of the early 1800s was primitive by today’s standards. Use these resources to help you develop a TREATMENT plan for the men. The selected entries from the Journals of Lewis and Clark may give you further insight into this medical challenge.
- "Medicine at the Turn of the Nineteenth Century"
- “Medical Supplies of the Lewis and Clark Expedition”
- “Medical Aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)”
- “The Medical World of Lewis and Clark”
- “The Journey West”
- “Critical Medical Observations in the Wild”
- “Prescription for Discovery”
( PDF file; Requires Adobe Reader ) - “Discovering Lewis and Clark – Botanicals”
MODERN TREATMENTS FOR MEDICAL PROBLEMS COMMON DURING THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION
Click on the link to Common Medical Problems of the Expedition to find out how the mens’ condition would be treated by a doctor today. COMPARE this with the treatment probably given by Lewis. Reflect about why most medical experts today are amazed that only one man died during the 29-month expedition. Finally, use your notes and information to help you create your PRESENTATION.
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