At the start of the Civil War; Dr. William McPheeters was a distinguished physician in St. Louis; conducting unprecedented public-health research; forging new medical standards; and organizing the state's first professional associations. But Missouri was a volatile border state. Under martial law; Union authorities kept close watch on known Confederate sympathizers. McPheeters was followed; arrested; threatened; and finally; in 1862; given an ultimatum: sign an oath of allegiance to the Union or go to federal prison. McPheeters "acted from principle" instead; fleeing by night to Confederate territory. He served as a surgeon under Gen. Sterling Price and his Missouri forces west of the Mississippi River; treating soldiers' diseases; malnutrition; and terrible battle wounds. From almost the moment of his departure; the doctor kept a diary. It was a pocket-size notebook which he made by folding sheets of pale blue writing paper in half and in which he wrote in miniature with his steel pen. It is the first known daily account by a Confederate medical officer in the Trans-Mississippi Department. It also tells his wife's story; which included harassment by Federal military officials; imprisonment in St. Louis; and banishment from Missouri with the couple's two small children. The journal appears here in its complete and original form; exactly as the doctor first wrote it; with the addition of the editors' full annotation and vivid introductions to each section.
#2802401 in Books Fulcrum Publishing 2001-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .60 x 6.00l; .73 #File Name: 1555910556240 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Very Readable Fascinating Text on the Medical Challenges of Lewis and ClarkBy Daniel HurleyDr. Bruce Patton writes a highly readable book on the Lewis and Clark expedition zeroing in on the exposures the men and Indians had to various ailments and injuries with treatment lent by amateur physicians Lewis and Clark. Patton incorporates the various medical challenges the men faced while doing a top-notch job describing their adventure with excellent detail in this compact book. Patton describes Lewis' training with the eminent physician of his time Dr. Rush in a two-week internship in Philadelphia. This brief period of medical knowledge is framed by bleeding; purging of the bowels and little knowledge of germs and sanitation. In spite of limited training; L C do a very commendable job treating the men and Indians by also combining good common sense and knowledge of frontier treatments. Patton describes in layman terms the various injuries and illnesses that the corps were facing from venomous snakebites; frostbite; boils; abscesses; lacerations; deep wounds; gunshot wounds (Lewis) gonorrhea; syphilis (treated with mercury); dislocations and various eye injuries. The latter treated with "eye water" that made them mysterious and gifted shaman in the eyes of many of the west of the Rockies Indians. Clark becomes the Nez Perce's favorite physician and Lewis steps aside as Clark's clinic earns supplies needed to survive the wait for the snows to melt. Patton also observes that Clark seemed to have a natural humanitarian interest in the Indians as exhibited by his concerns for the periodically ill Sacagawea and her child "Pompie" in contrast to Lewis' less charitable concerns. Clark's more sensitive spirit may have been apparent to the Nez Perce who made him their physician of choice. Patton also offers a diagnosis of the only casualty of the expedition; Sergeant Floyd who died early in the adventure. Thought to have died by appendicitis; Patton reviews the symptoms in the journal and offers a different opinion. Limited to the description of symptoms in journals; Patton systematically offers a diagnosis of what may have been troubling the ill individuals and then analyzes the treatment. Not quite as detailed as a similar book written by another physician ("Or Perish in the Attempt") the book serves as an equal companion and contrast. And actually reading both books is a joy as they do vary in areas and both are well written. Patton also offers an excellent history of the expedition that surprisingly offers noteworthy episodes not described in the book "Undaunted Courage" that focused more on Lewis. For example; Patton accurately describes the loss of horses by Sergeant Pryor; stolen by Crow Indians; after Pryor separated from Clark who stayed with the canoes. Patton describes how Pryor and company unexpectedly rejoins Clark's flotilla by ingeniously making 'bull boats'; providing simple and a fast mode of transportation. A very pleasant read and Dr. Patton writes for the reader; medical layman and all; educating in a straight forward and understanding way. Well worth reading as a companion to a detailed account or if you have time for one book; you won't go wrong with Patton's book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. wilderness medicineBy BarbaraTo date the medical aspect of Lewis and Clark exploration has not been treated in any depth or detail. I ordered this book hoping that it would fill the gap. The author has acted as a medical consultant for several wilderness expeditions; he draws on his practical experience to imagine conditions faced by men of the LC expedition and Natives they met along the way. Unfortunately Dr Paton's historical knowledge of early nineteenth-century medical concepts doesn't match his twenty-first century definition of the problems.The text is quite repetitive: instead of organizing his subject as a series of medical topics; Dr Paton joins the legion of other authors who can't resist (re)telling the LC story.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. cross riverBy Kindle CustomerVery informative on early medications;illness;trauma.recommend all wilderness hikers;workers;or general outdoor people. DR. Benjamin Rush was one of our leading physician in wilderness doctor-ing.
