A Snake Bite at Independence Creek

The members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition may have feared encountering Prairie Rattlesnakes along their journey. Growing longer than three feet, these venomous reptiles are found throughout the center of the United States from the Canadian border to South Texas.

During the Lewis and Clark Expedition, there were many ways the members were able to treat themselves when they became ill. Filled with what was available for modern medicine at the time, Lewis brought a chest of different medicines for expected or unexpected illnesses or wound care. Many of these remedies were what we might call today herbal or home remedies. How prepared do you think Lewis and Clark were for these unexpected encounters?

One great example for herbal remedies along the trail would be when the Expedition had stopped at Independence Creek in 1804. Snakes were a fear for the members along the trail as they charted their way through high plains and rocky terrain. Snakes could hide anywhere, just waiting for their next victim! And just as suspected, one member of the corps, Joseph Fields, who was known as being a skilled bison hunter, was bitten on the foot! On July 4th, 1804, while the expedition charted through Independence Creek in today’s Kansas City, Kansas, this not-totally-unexpected turn of events sent the corps scrambling for their medicine chest!

Turning the Fourth of July from a day that might be celebrated to a day filled with fear, the Corps suspected snake bite might be from a rattlesnake, William Clark used powdered bark from the cinchona tree, which is native to South America. Although the bark of this tree was known for aiding other illnesses, it still would not have sufficed for venomous snake bites. Luckily, just after five days of being bitten, it was reported at Joseph Fields had made a full recovery and was back on the journey just like the rest of the members of the Corps!