Divi's Medicine Page

This medicine chest brought on the expedition held all of the medical supplies needed on the journey.

Sacajawea and her baby Pomp, also known as Jean Baptiste, are on a dollar coin. Lewis healed Sacajawea on the expedition when she was very close to death with a high fever, irregular breathing, weak pulse, and twitching. Clark healed Pomp when he was sick with a throat infection.

Medicine Chests held many needed medical supplies, such as these, on the Expedition. Numbers 1 ad 5 are medicine containers. Number 2 is a cupping glass. Number 3 are Dr. Rush's pills. Number 4 is Turkish opium. Numbers 6 and 7 are medicine bottles. Number 8 is a pair of bullet tongs. Number 9 is a straightedge knife. Numbers 10 and 11 are scalpels. Number 12 is a cauterizer. Number 13 is a tenaculum. Number 14 is a retractor. Number 15 is a mortar and pestle. Number 16 is a bone saw, and number 17 is the medicine chest.

Sergeant Charles Floyd was the only man out of 40 on the expedition that died. His death was unpreventable though because his appendix suddenly burst, instantly killing him on August 20, 1804.



Meriwether Lewis was the main doctor of the Corps of Discovery.

President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory in 1803 for 15 million dollars, and he chose Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition to study the newly purchased land. Lewis later chose William Clark to go with him on the expedition.

Dr. Benjamin Rush was the best doctor of that time, and he assisted the Corps of Discovery by training Lewis prior to the expedition. He also made a list of medical supplies that were bought in St. Louis prior to the expedition.

William Clark was the assistant doctor of the Corps of Discovery. He could only cure minor illnesses, with his minimal expertise, but he assisted Lewis to help cure many people.

President Tomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis to study medicine, and many other skills, with Dr. Benjamin Rush because Lewis was the main doctor of the trip. Dr. Rush was one of the greatest physicians of that time. He taught Lewis many skills that were expected to be needed on the journey. Even though Lewis was the main doctor, William Clark also had some medical training before the expedition but not as much as Lewis. He could only treat minor colds, diseases, and infections, but even with his minimal expertise, he still helped many people, especially while with the Nez Perce.





With the expertise of Lewis and Clark on this expedition, the Corps of Discovery made a successful trip that became famous and is now known as The Lewis and Clark Expedition.




Bibliography

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http://www.siouxcitymuseum.org/images%202/sgt_floyd.jpg