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Customer Reviews (2)

be sure to READ the three star review
This book is an excellent introduction to the history and ways of Montana's Salish people.The previous (3 star!?!?!?) review took issue with the fact that the admittedly excellent book doesn't fit well on his coffee table or bookshelf.boo hoo!Set aside a special place for this wonderful volume full of interesting insights, history, and beautiful pictures.

The Salish People
Let me start by saying that I am pleased to own this book.An article published at the time of its release noted that it was the first of a series that the University of Nebraska is planning on American Indian tribes.If so, I will own the others as well.However, this is a book of contradictions, a fact that also complicates efforts to understand or review it.It is nicely illustrated in the style of a coffee table volume.Yet, its size and shape match few other books on my coffee table or book shelves.At first glance it looks as if it might end up on the coffee table, but the reader will find that it is much more.It is a serious cultural account of Salish history, with the tribe overseeing the content and drawing upon the elders for subject matter.The authors have inserted many phonetic representations of Salish words that, while fully explained, will interrupt the flow for casual readers.It is a mixed blessing that this book has attached itself to the Lewis and Clark theme.This book is a useful addition to the Lewis and Clark source material.True, exploiting the Lewis and Clark bicentennial will probably increase acceptance and sales.However, it obscures the broader cultural scope of the book and unfortunately will date it.Each Native American tribe (nation) has its own unique cultural history; and the cultures vary greatly.A series of books such as this, each devoted to a single tribe, will be a valuable addition to American cultural literature.It is extremely unfortunate that few non-Indians in America have more than a rudimentary understanding of our fellow citizens that we call Native Americans.This book is at a readable level that may expand American knowledge of Native Americans.On the other hand, like all of the tribes, the Salish culture is tremendously broad and deep; this book is only an introduction. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting Reading
I hiked some of the area's the expedition traveled in the Bitterroot Mountains.This book helped to give me a better idea of what the men went through.

The MEN of the Lewis & Clark expedition

This book is basically in two parts: the first is a listing of all 51 men associated with the L & C expedition and their biographies (most are very short since little or nothing could be learned about them); the second, and much longer part, is a reproduction of those sections in the Journals that mention specific men and their roles. Clarke believes that "as the men are rather lost in the maze of descriptive matter found [in the Journals], the aim of this condensation is to bring them back into sight." He has therefore culled the original journals, not only of Lewis and Clark, but also of Gass, Ordway, Floyd, and Whitehouse, seeking out the names and activities of the expedition's members. It's an interesting approach to the records of the expedition: in studying the original journals with all their mention of miles traveled, campsite locations, weather highlights, etc., it's easy to forget that it's a body of men who are performing this monumental task of exploration. Jefferson wanted the diarists to record "the facts"; this account adds the human element to those facts. A most interesting book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

More readable than Lewis & Clark
Patrick Gass's journal is much more readable than that of Lewis & Clark - for a start, his spelling is better; he doesn't resort to overblown, flowery descriptions (the notable and ludicrous exceptions are those added by his first editor); and Ms McGregor's wonderful notes flesh out this rivetting story.

Reading this after the better-publicised Lewis & Clark journals makes you wonder if they were on the same expedition - the Captains' journal is more concerned with who they met, making maps and taking measurements - whereas Gass's journal is full of description of the surrounding country and wildlife (interestingly, Gass rarely mentions anyone but the Captains by name).

The newly-included account-book is very interesting and the list of animals killed for food gives one some idea of the calorie requirements demanded by the intense labour these men went through each day, and also making you wonder if there was anything left for the poor natives after they'd passed through their territory!

The Journals of Patrick Gass
Sergeant Gass was one of the few members of the Corp of Discovery to keep a consistent log of the journey.His journal style makes his account interesting and very readable.Gass's log of daily activities shows theoptomistic spirit of the corp and makes this an important contribution tothe study of the expedition.The inclusion of Gass's newly discoveredpersonal account ledger is facinating!

As a descendent of Patrick I found this book wonderful
Carol MacGregor has done a wonderful job. She has taken the original Lewis & Clark Journals and footnoted the Gass Journal. Where Gass said men went out to hunt she names the hunters ect,. His account book told me whenmy g,g,g, grandmother diedand what was bought day by day. I was surprisedthat so much fish was eaten.On behalf of the Gass family, Thank you for ajob well done.

Gass's writings add significant details to L&C's writings.
Carol MacGregor did an excellent job of presenting Gass's writings. Gassappeared to clarify several situations that I had difficulty with in Lewis& Clark's writings in Thwaites edition. It is a strong addition toCoues edition and provides insite not evident in Ambrose's UndauntedCourage. I'm anxious to read writings of Ordway and Whitehouse even tho Iunderstand that some of the writings of the enlisted men may beduplications of each other.

The definitive edition of the Gass journal.
Mrs. MacGregor gives a salient introduction to the story of Patrick Gass.His life and his own account of his trip with Lewis & Clark make for a remarkable read as we approach the bicentenial of the Corps of Discovery.A wonderful footnote to the personal history of this intrepid explorer is available in the detailed account books of Patrick Gass found only in this edition.For any student of the L&C expedition and the early history of the opening of the west, I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

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The Lewis and Clark Card Game is an exciting rummy-like game of exploration!Follow the footsteps of Lewis and Clark using this 56 card deck of oversized exploration cards.Join the historical expedition and learn all about the discoveries they made on their journey west!Includes instructions for two simple card games each with their own unique challenges.

Contents of Lewis and Clark Card Game:

• 56 exploration cards


• Trail map poster (18" x 24")


• Stickers


• Instructions
... Read more

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This book provides a distinctly unique literary approach to the account of the Expedition of Lewis and Clark. Dr. David Peck -- an avowed devotee of Lewis and Clark -- takes a new look at the myriad dangers faced by the explorers on a daily basis on their trek into the Western wilderness. What he finds is altogether revealing, instructive, and entertaining. Dr. Peck guides us through the medical travails of the famous journey, juxtaposing treatment then against remedy now. The result is a fascinating book which sheds new light on not only Lewis and Clark and the men they led along an 8,000-mile wilderness path, but the practice of medicine in the world they lived in. Illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Reviews by Nan Kilar and Bobby Miller
The only reason I bought this book was that the money went to a Louis and Clark outpost along the L & C trail. Where along the trail, I can't say. All I remember was the lady there was nice and said this was an interesting book. A book written by a doctor--from a medical point of view--who was a Lewis and Clark fan. In this day and time, if you find someone who takes an interest in their job and customers, be nice to them. They are a rare breed indeed. All I'm going to say about the book is that it was a real find; it'll make a welcome addition to any library.

Lively Well Written Account of the Medical Practices of the Captains
Physician Peck writes a well-written lively account, in an almost conversational method wrought with humor, of the adventures of the Corps of Discovery and the medical obstacles they encountered along with the medical practices utilized by the good captains. Peck provides a background of medical practices that were practiced in that day as well as a brief summation of how medicine was practiced from the ages up through the early 1800s, that latter being in an appendix. As Peck states quite clearly, Lewis is armed with limited medical knowledge from a two-week crash-training course from the eminent physician at that time, Dr. Rush. As Peck points out, limited knowledge may have been the best since such familiar practices of bleed and purging the stomach were thought as primary cures at that time. Peck provides an excellent detailed history of the adventure while analyzing in friendly to the reader detail, the symptoms of the members and Native American injuries and illnesses that Lewis and Clark treated along their journey. Everything from stomach illnesses caused by under cooked game to bacteria and protozoa that may inhabit the water they drank from. What is truly amazing, with exposure to mosquitoes and possible yellow fever, frostbite, hypothermia, snake bites, back ailments, eye injuries and ghastly wounds including Lewis' shot in the buttocks by their near sighted fiddler, they all survive. They suffer only one casualty and that is in the early goings, Sergeant Floyd who appears to have died from an appendicitis that may have been connected to complications caused by parasites. With the use of opiates for pain, the Captains may have provided comfort while treating patients who fortunately survive treatments that may actually have made them worse. However, a lot of the Captains commons sense treatments were successful, particularly among the Indians where Captain Clark's reputation as a man of great medicine helped the corps survive as they received rations that helped them exist while on their return journey. Peck's humor is evident as he describes an illness that pursues the corps along their journey as an unwelcomed guest and while using the term of that period for the illness, it takes one a few paragraphs to catch on. In addition, young Shannon seems to be always getting lost or losing something and Peck notes that he may have been a good candidate for riddlin. Peck also offers a chapter that discusses what became of the members after their return with an excellent analysis of the arguments surrounding Lewis' death. Many argue that it was syphilis related or depression, Peck offers the latter noting that physicians that treat themselves make gross errors. Peck also includes an anatomy diagram of Lewis' possible wounds and a glossary of 1800 medical terms and treatments. I would have liked a little more detail on Lewis' state of mind as he performed at high levels but during periods of stress seemed to possess a mercurial temperament that could explode at times. As Peck notes, one Indian that was teasing the corps about their dog preference eating habits picked the wrong guy to throw a puppy at almost resulting in his death. All the explanation of medical ailments and treatments are compared to today's standards in layman's terms. After reading this book, I will always order my meat well done and even more fervently wash my hands after handling anything.

A new American classic
"Or Perish in the Attempt: Wilderness Medicine in the Lewis and Clark Expedition" brings the journey of exploration through the Louisiana purchase vibrantly alive.Dr. Peck's writing is easy-to-read, yet technically thorough, examining the 1803-1805 expedition through his perspective as a medical doctor.

He begins by assessing the state of medical knowledge of the time, and explains the initial provisioning for the mission in Philadelphia.It was fascinating to learn which treatments were beneficial (Peruvian bark, opium and laudanum, for example), and which ones are now known to be harmful (blood-letting, immersion in cold water for frostbite).As he explains incidents requiring medical intervention, we are treated to wistful musings of how much value a modern technique or product would have been, such as a simple bottle of antisceptic eye drops for snow blindness or corneal irritation.The descriptions of how the men must have reacted to the proposed treatments for venereal diseases are hilarious.

The social aspects of the book are also well-detailed.No one's contribution is left out, fromthe "black white man", York, to Sacajawea, the Shoshone wife of the Frenchman Toussaint Charbonneau who acted as guide, food finder and interpreter.The beautifully written chapters make it clear that it took the strength and talents of every member of the team to cross mountain ranges, fight bears and hostile tribes, obtain food and shelter, document species, peoples and geography.And return safely, with only one exception, harboring vivid memories of having made it through rain, snow, hail, water swimming with gut-busting bacteria, malaria, injuries, spoiled meat, and the original "Low Carbohydrate Diet of the Plains."The fact that they brought the mission off successfully was due to luck, as the author points out.But also important were their abilities to adapt, endure hardships together, and devise on-the-spot medical solutions (which the men managed somehow to survive!)This new American classic makes a fascinating read - an excellent gift that you will want to read yourself, too.

An exhilarating view!
To say that Dr. Peck has given light to another side of the journey of the Corp isn't enough; this is more than a fresh perspective.Or Perish in the Attempt earns its place among the great books about this journey of the Corp of Discovery.While reading this book the reader will feel the dust on the trail, the sweat from a day in the canoe, the fear of facing down a grizzly, and the curiosity as Lewis and Clark disperse liberal doses of "Thunderclappers."Dr. Peck has given us a well researched account of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and taught us crucial lessons in wilderness medicine at the beginning of the 19th century.I can't wait to go back to these dog-eared pages and retrace the steps again.Thank you for the well written book, thank you for the medical insights with the explanation that I can understand, and thank you for bringing these stories to light.

An exhilarating view!
To say that Dr. Peck has given light to another side of the journey of the Corp isn't enough; this is more than a fresh perspective.Or Perish in the Attempt earns its place among the great books about this journey of the Corp of Discovery.While reading this book the reader will feel the dust on the trail, the sweat from a day in the canoe, the fear of facing down a grizzly, and the curiosity as Lewis and Clark disperse liberal doses of "Thunderclappers."Dr. Peck has given us a well researched account of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and taught us crucial lessons in wilderness medicine at the beginning of the 19th century.I can't wait to go back to these dog-eared pages and retrace the steps again.Thank you for the well written book, thank you for the medical insights with the explanation that I can understand, and thank you for bringing these stories to light. ... Read more

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This is a reprint edition of the Ruben Gold Thwaites 1904 Dodd Mead edition. This print edition includes a CD-ROM of the original maps that were published in the journals. The images are in Adobe PDF format retaining the look and feel of the original publication and will work on either Macintosh or Windows PC's. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Atlas Accompanying the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
The maps, albeit of historical interest, are in such small print and graphics that it is difficult to readily track to comparative locations in terms of today's geography and nomenclature. ... Read more

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Become an eyewitness to history with the new Cornerstones of Freedom, Second Series.Rewritten and updated, with even more full-colour photographs and historical engravings than before, Cornerstones of Freedom, Second Series introduces the people and events that helped shape the United States.Don't miss a single exciting page! ... Read more

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When the Lewis and Clark expedition departed on its voyage of exploration in May of 1804, the region of North America west of the Mississippi River was a blank spot on the map. Lewis and Clark were to fill it in with rivers and mountains, Indian tribes, and animals new to European Americans. Today the West is a completely different place from what it was two hundred years ago. Every inch has been mapped, and much of its land has been covered by farms, ranches, cities, and towns. Award-winning author of more than a hundred nonfiction books for children, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and photographer William Muñoz capture the contrast between the American West then and now in this informative volume, aided by old prints, photographs, and paintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Only a nice enough look at the subject
I truly am fascinating by Lewis and Clark and the whole Corps of Discovery Expedition and all, but this book, besides some nice pictures and photos, really did not do much for me.Patent gives a summary of the expedition in two-page sections with nice enough information but not a whole lot of passion or even apparently interest in the subject.It was almost like a school project of comparing the modern area with what the Corps saw--informative and rather boring.The book is well organized and is educational enough, but I don't think it's going to gain the Corps of Discovery any new fans.

A solid introduction to the Lewis & Clark Expedition
The story of the Lewis and Clark expedition is the one great exploration of the American continent that was actually undertaken by Americans rather than by Europeans visiting the New World."The Lewis and Clark Trail Then and Now," with text by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and Photographs by William Munoz, compares the way things have changed along the route almost two hundred years later.When Lewis and Clark left St. Louis in May of 1804 the United States was a land without telephones, railroads, cars, electrical equipment or dozens of other modern conveniences we take for granted.The region of North American between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean was fill of rivers and mountains, native tribes and indigenous animals, all waiting to be "discovered."Today, this entire region has been mapped, and a lot of that uninhabited land is now covered by farms and ranches, towns and cities.Even the mighty Missouri and Columbia Rivers that Lewis and Clark followed have been damned.Still, there are wilderness areas, such as the Rocky Mountains, where what you would see today has changed little from the time Lewis and Clark first trekked through their landscapes.

However, overall the emphasis in this book is more on the "then," even though most of the pictures are of the "now."There is a reproduction of an 1802 map showing the great area of the unexplored American West and some early 19th-century paintings, but the photographs are of contemporary vistas and shots of some of the equipment taken on the expedition.The book does not make an attempt to match up old paintings with new photographs, but rather tries to combine them to give a sense of the places visited and the peoples met along the way.Ultimately, the book fills in the spaces between that unfinished map at the start of the book and the completed map made by Clark that appears at the end.Each chapter is essentially a two-page spread on chronologically arranged topics from Members of the Expedition and Life on the River to Finding the Shoshone and Descending the Might Columbia.The net effect is a concise look at the history making expedition and how it fulfilled President Thomas Jefferson's mandate.Young students assigned to research the topic or simply interested in this part of American history will find "The Lewis and Clark Trail: Now and Then" provides a solid look at the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
Inspired by the journey of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery, this cookbook includes historical quotations from the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and reproductions of works by Karl Bodmer, John F. Clymer, Charles M. Russell, and Charles Wilson Peale. The recipes use both wild ingredients and today's flavors and styles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Convenient Lewis & Clark Cookbook with Great Art
The Evensons have combined an easy to use spiral-bound book format with great Lewis & Clark art and a good selection of relevant quotes from Lewis and Clark journals.

As dedicated Lewis & Clark afficianados, we have done extensive research on the Corps of Discovery and the foods they ate.This book and its companion "Sacagawea Cookbook" capture the essence of the L&C Expedition in food, imagery, and word. It is very well laid out and a joy to read and use.

The recipes have taken the essence of foods on the Expedition and the times, and have presented contemporary recipes which can be prepared in today's kitchen with today's ingredients.Spiral-bound, the book stays open flat to the recipe in use; or you can prop it open (tent-like) to one of the full-page art works. ... Read more

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Venture through the unknown lands beyond the Mississippi with Lewis and Clark, their crew of army men, the slave York, the young Shoshone guide Sacagawea, and a dog named Seaman. See the party brave all kinds of hair-raising obstacles in its search for a water route to the Pacific Ocean. Rosalyn Schanzer’s marvelously detailed and engaging illustrations work beautifully with excerpts from Clark’s journal and other primary resources to re-create one of America’s greatest adventures. From hostile terrain to helpful Indians, from boating disaster to grizzly bear encounter, the people, places, and events of this amazing expedition come to life on every page of this outstanding picture book.

Customer Reviews (12)

Action on every page


This book just grabs my children's attention -- they love it.The reading level is very manageable (even for 1st or 2nd graders, but older kids are absorbed by the information, too)), and the graphic layout makes learning easy and fun.

We read it many times on our long drive along the expedition route -- one of our favorite books from the entire Lewis and Clark summer.

Exceptional -- brings history to life!
This book brings history to life with primary source material and fabulous illustrations. This is a must-have book to inspire kids and adults -- for read alone and read aloud. I also highly recommend "George vs George" by the same author. Rosalyn Schanzer does a fabulous job of making history fun and accessible.

Interesting primary source
I read several books about Lewis and Clark to my homeschooled 6, 8, and 11 year olds.This was hands down our favorite.The kids said it was "awesome."Not only are the illustrations and text highly engaging, it has the wonderful additional benefit of being actual excerpts from their journals.My 11 year old had already read several pages to her brothers before I took over, and I enjoyed it so much that I went back later and read the parts I missed.

Fast moving and full of interesting information
I bought this book because our family is planning a summer vacation to Montana.We wanted to refresh our memory of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. We all enjoyed the diaries and illustrations in the book. It isthe right amount of information to keep the story moving and keep all readers interested. It is full of interesting details of this famous journey.

Lots of info and easy to read
We ordered this to complete a reading requirement for my child's project.It was packed with information yet illustrated nicely and easy to read. ... Read more

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First published in 1969, Lewis and Clark: Pioneering Naturalists remains the most comprehensive account of the scientific studies carried out by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark during their overland expedition to the Pacific Northwest and back in 1804–6. Summaries of the animals, plants, topographical features, and Indian tribes encountered are included at the end of each chapter devoted to the particular leg of the journey. A distinguished biologist, Paul Russell Cutright will be remembered for this landmark contribution to our understanding of the world that the expedition observed and recorded.

Paul Russell Cutright (1897–1988) was a historian and a zoologist who wrote extensively on American natural history. Paul A. Johnsgard is Foundation Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska. His forty-two books include The Nature of Nebraska: Ecology and Biodiversity and Crane Music: A Natural History of American Cranes, both available from the University of Nebraska Press. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful book - could use more illustrations though
This book is a fascinating natural history of the Lewis and Clark expedition that deals not just with flora and fauna but also with geology, geography, medicine, and the ethnography of the tribes the explorers met on their way to the Pacific and back.The story is told chronologically, with enough detail that if your main interest is natural history this could be the only history of the expedition you will want to read.

The author writes in a surprisingly readable style.The book's only drawback is the almost total lack of illustrations.Judging from the nice drawing on the cover, taken from a page of the explorers' journals, there were illustrations available but they didn't make it into the text.There were so many times when even a line drawing would have been helpful.At the very least some maps (one for each chapter, showing rivers, the explorers' path, and major landmarks along with maybe a light outline of present state boundaries) should be added to future editions.

The bottom line: this is a good book with a wealth of information.You may want to keep a map and/or a wildlife guide handy as you read, though. ... Read more

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One of the greatest challenges faced by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis on their 1804-6 Corps of Discovery expedition was that of medical emergencies on the trail. Without an attending physician, even routine ailments and injuries could have tragic consequences for the expedition's success and the safety of its members. Of these dangers, the most insidious and potentially devastating was the slow, painful, and oftentimes fatal ravage of venereal disease.

Physician Thomas P. Lowry delves into the world of nineteenth-century medicine, uncovering the expedition's very real fear of venereal disease. Lewis and Clark knew they were unlikely to prevent their men from forming sexual liaisons on the trail, so they prepared for the consequences of encounters with potentially infected people, as well as the consequences of preexisting disease, by stocking themselves with medicine and the latest scientific knowledge from the best minds in America. Lewis and Clark's expedition encountered Native peoples who experienced venereal disease as a result of liaisons with French, British, Spanish, and Canadian travelers and had their own methods for curing its victims, or at least for easing the pain it inflicted.Lowry's careful study of the explorers' journals sheds new light on this neglected aspect of the expedition, showing in detail how sex and venereal disease affected the men and their mission, and describes how diverse peoples faced a common threat with the best knowledge and tools at their disposal.

Thomas P. Lowry is a retired psychiatrist and associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco. He is the author of Curmudgeons, Drunkards, and Outright Fools: Courts-Martial of Civil War Union Colonels, available in a Bison Books edition, and The Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell: Sex in the Civil War. Edwin C. Bearrs is historian emeritus of the National Park Service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Tantalizingly provocative: a cornucopia of speculation
Sen. Rick Santorum would not endorse this review, but I am voting against this book since there surely cannot be enough material in L&C's journals for a full book on this subject.I recommend instead the book "Disease and History" (1972) by Frederick F. Cartwright, which explains how various diseases helped change or form history. Also I will point out that some have said there's people relating to this book "suffering from delusions of grandeur fed by sycophants".I don't know, I'm just repeating this slander here.BTW I have not read this book.

Misintrpretations and unsupportable conclusions
Dr. Lowry does an excellent job discussing the diseases and treatments of syphilis and gonorrhea and that alone makes the book worth buying.However with about 20 entries of venereal diseases in the journals he manages to misinterpret some of the entries, provides misleading information and some of his conclusions are not suportable by the entries in the journals.
J.W.F.
author "Medical Appendices of the Lewis and Clark Expedition"

An Unrecognized Part of the Heroism
It was entirely because of the incongruity in the titlethat I picked up the book _Venereal Disease and the Lewis and Clark Expedition_ (University of Nebraska Press) by Thomas P. Lowry.Surely, I thought, this little book can't be a serious evaluation of the conjunction of two never-to-be united subjects.I was completely wrong.Dr. Lowry, a retired psychiatrist and a historian of aspects of the Civil War, has thrown light on his two subjects, both of which are fascinating looked at in the light of the other.Lowry points out that the subject of sex has been broached by historians of the famous expedition, but having been broached, it is mentioned in passing, as if to say, "Sure, they had syphilis, but on to our real story."This has meant that not all of the history of the expedition could be written, because: "The role of sex and venereal disease on the expedition has been trivialized, marginalized, downplayed."Venereal disease was not downplayed by the explorers themselves, who anticipated it realistically and treated it as best they could.It was their way of facing a danger to their corps, "one that was in many ways as dangerous as grizzly bears, snakes, warfare, and slippery trails."They wrote about sex and venereal disease frequently in their journals, but their remarks are often not included in the many books about them.This is especially ironic in that venereal disease may have played a role in Meriwether Lewis's ultimate sad deterioration and death.

Lowry gives a brief history of gonorrhea and syphilis, especially of the latter, and says that they were most likely given to the Indians by the French, British, and Spanish adventurers that had visited the area.Lewis and Clark knew this, and they took pains to be prepared.They were professional soldiers, but as leaders of the expedition, they were expected to be physicians and pharmacists, too, although they had no training in the medical arts.By the time of the expedition, the standard treatment was mercury in some form, which we now know as a poison.It had side effects that were horrible, but it did seem to subdue the symptoms of syphilis which were more horrible still.Lewis and Clark had to be prepared for all medical eventualities, as they would not find drugs or doctors on the way.But a full fifteen percent of the drugs they brought with them were for gonorrhea or syphilis.They were realists, who knew that the Indians had a far different view of sexuality than members of their expedition had, that there were many young men traveling with them, and that they would be gone for years.The Indians continuously surprised them with open sexuality meant for barter or for ceremony.A chief pleased with medical assistance, for instance, might offer the nighttime companionship of his wife or daughter.Such companionship might simply be offered as hospitality to the newcomers.The Indians were fascinated by York, Clark's slave, and on one occasion York was invited to a native home to convey his magic to the wife, while the husband stood guard outside to make sure the magic went on uninterrupted.

The historical evaluation of the medical condition of the men is complicated, in that although there were voluminous notes and memoirs of the expedition, not all symptoms or medical problems are documented.Also, of course, exact diagnosis (with, say, blood tests) could not be done then and cannot be done retrospectively.Lowry has tried to run down the medical fates of all the participants, some of whom certainly got venereal disease and were treated for it.He can only speculate about what happened to Meriwether Lewis, but the intrepid hero did live only a few years after the expedition's return, years that were complicated by mood problems and confusion.He was governor of Missouri during some of the time, but he was often absent from office, possibly taking a secret mercury cure.He was seen by others as having a derangement, and toward the end suffered from psychotic delusions.Lowry speculates that there may have been other causes, such as a mood disorder or alcoholism, but makes a reasonable case for neurosyphilis playing a role in Lewis's tragic early death.Such a conclusion can only increase a reader's admiration for the courage these men showed in the service of their country, braving so many dangers that have long been acknowledged, and also the heretofore unacknowledged danger of the microorganisms they tried to fight as best they could.

Human Reality of History
Dr. Lowry is a consistently fascinating author.Branching out from his breakthrough research on the Civil War (Stories the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell and other classics), Lowry examined the medical challenges faced by Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery in their journey to plot and open the great "unknown" west.Yet, above the many startling facts and insights Lowry offers in this book, a great realization emerges--globalization is not a new phenomenon, and globalization has always had a dark side.Native Americans, varied and complex, had one unifying experience:The devastation they suffered from the arrival of European diseases, not least venereal infections.Setting aside the debate as to the geographic origins of syphilis, it appears incontestable that the spirochetes were delivered to the Indians of the Great Plains and the Pacific northwest by French, Spanish, Russian, English and American trappers, explorers, wanderers...often indirectly, through other tribes.We all have heard the tales of smallpox and its morbidity, but, until Dr. Lowry blazed this new trail, few of us grasped the extent to which VD ravaged and undermined Native American culture.Further, the Corps of Discovery itself suffered serious debilities, thanks to such infections--in a historical turnabout, American explorers were infected by Indians, rather than the other way around (although some members of the Corps doubtless carried such ailments with them when they embarked).Lowry tells a taut, lucid, compelling and peculiarly inspiring story.On top of all the other adversity faced by Lewis and Clark, this, too.Without sensationalism or lurid nonsense, Lowry deepens and enriches our appreciation of the very human men who made history--and of the nameless Indians with whom they interacted, for better and worse.Lowry also writes splendidly of the state of early 19th-century medicine, a subject for which his own background eminently qualifies him.All in all, this book may be small in size, but it's huge in its implications and understanding.A very valuable read, consistently interesting, and very highly recommended. ... Read more

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