Medicine, Illness, and Injury
As Lewis and Clark enbarked on this journey one of there orders was to bring the company back safe. The goal was achieved with only one death. Although the goal was achieved many did get sick and injured. Some examples of the sickness encountered includes malaria, quinine, rheumatism, and even sexually transmitted diseases from the Indians. Sacagawea even came close to death from sickness. Falls were common with Lewis on the expedition. The first fall Lewis had was at the Missouri River, and later he fell while exploring in the Rocky Mountains. Foot injuries were also common because of rough terrain that was frequently covered with prickly pear cacti. Boating accidents were also mentioned allot in the journals kept by expedition members. Some of the men could not swim, and it is fortunate that no person drowned. Some of the other injuries include horseback, insects, weather, nutrition, and accidental cuts and gunshots. Herbs, bark, and plants were used to as medicine on the trip. Bleeding, although very strange, was a way that doctors thought a person could be healed.