Prior to leaving on his journey, Meriwether Lewis received medical training in Philadelphia and purchased numerous medical supplies to take on the expedition. During the journey many of these medicines were used as the Corps faced illness and injury, but they were not the only medical remedies used. Members of the Corps also learned about and successfully followed medical practices and remedies from American Indians they met along the way. Join Dr. David Peck, author of "Or Perish in the Attempt: Wilderness Medicine in the Lewis and Clark Expedition," to learn more about disease and remedy on the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Contents of the Broadcast:
1. Opening to 7:35--Introduction, welcome, overview of today's program and essential questions, introduction of Dr. Peck and topics covered by his book.
2. 7:35 to 18:07—This segment explores Euro-American medical thinking at the time of the expedition. Topics include general medical practices ot the time including bloodletting, limited knowledge of the body at the time, how diagnoses were made, and how doctors were trained. Images of bloodletting and other medical instruments of the time are included along with a picture of America's leading physician of the time, Dr. Benjamin Rush.
3. 18:07 to 24:20—In the next segment, the topic shifts to Native American medical practices of the time. Topics include use of herbal medicines, the similarity of that practice to EuroAmerican medical practice of the time, and the spiritual aspect of Native American medicine. Images of medical instruments of the time are included.
4. 24:20 to 29:05E-mail questions dealing with the death of Sgt. Floyd and the use of "sweating" to aid Bratton on the return trip are answered. Medical descriptions of these events are included.
5. 29:05 to 37:20--In this segment, Dr. Peck discusses the medical needs of the Corps during their encounter with the Nez Perce on the Weippe Prairie. Journal entries from the time are included as well as descriptions of Dr Rush's pills and their effects on the body. Other topics include the effect of changing diet on the medical condition of the Corps and the use of emetics to treat digestive tract problems.
6. 37:20 to 46:35--Topics in this segment include how well Lewis and Clark did taking care of their men, the effectiveness of treatments used, events surrounding the birth of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau and the use of the rattlesnake rattle referred to in the journals, and the effectiveness of plant and herbal medicines.
7. 46:35 to End—Our final segment deals with treatment of Lewis' gunshot wound on the return trip and summary of major medical concepts discussed during the program.
