![]() ![]() ![]() Like Lewis, he carried in his head the usual frontiersman’s storehouse of medical information: how to set a broken limb or remove an imbedded bullet, how to cope with croup, dysentery, and a wide range of other ailments. Clark also had medical training of sorts. Lewis shared his mother’s interest in herbs and herb therapy and had acquired much of her knowledge. Lewis’ mother was a well-known Virginia herb doctor who had her own herb garden, grew and dispensed her own simples, and ministered regularly and faithfully to the sick of Albemarle County. This decision may have been made easier by his familiarity with Lewis’ family background. Rush also suggests that the President, who planned each step of the expedition with almost preternatural care, gave no serious thought at any time to engaging the services of a physician, being content to let Lewis and Clark handle whatever ills and miseries might befall the party. ![]() To lead this parly he had selected Captain Meriwether Lewis-who would, in turn, ask William Clark, the brother of George Rogers Clark, to share the demanding duties of command. He will be in Philadelphia about 2 or 3 weeks hence & will wait on you.Īs Jefferson stated to Rush, he had just obtained from Congress the necessary authorization to send a party to explore the unknown reaches of the Missouri River and to find a route to the Pacific. For this purpose I ask the favor of you to prepare some notes of such particulars as may occur in his journey & which you think should draw his attention & enquiry. … It would be very useful to state for him those objects on which it is most desirable he should bring us information. Lewis my secretary will set out on it immediately & probably accomplish it in two seasons. Benjamin Rush, professor of the Institute of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the foremost American physician of his day:ĭear Sir: I wish to mention to you in confidence that I have obtained authority from Congress to undertake the long desired object of exploring the Missouri & whatever river, heading with that, leads into the Western ocean. On February 23, 1803, Thomas Jefferson wrote the following letter to Dr. ![]()
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