Lewis & Clark's Medical Chest
Assafoetic- ill smelling Indian spice, used as a carminitive to lessen abdominal distention, and cramping. There is no documental proof that this was used on the expedition
Balasm Copaiba- an oily sunstance from a South American tree that was used as a carminative. diuretic, or orally as a treatment for ghorrhea
Balsamum traumaticum- contains benzion, aloes, and balsamto treat respiratory problems such as inflamation of the nose, throat, and bronchi
Calamine Oitment- mixtrure of zinc oxide and ferric oxide to treat skin irritation
Calomel- mercury chloride used as a purgative; main ingredient of Dr. Rush's pills
Cream of Tartar- derived from grape juice and put into wine casks with yeast to produce a purgative
Dr. Rush's Pills- a combination of calomel and jalap to be used as a purgative; high amount of mercury; Lewis brought 50 dozen
Epispastric Ointment- used to produce blisters to withdraw the fluid from deeper tissue
Glauber's Salts- a saline cathartic to produce purging
Gum Camphor- stimulant and diaphoretic; also used on skins to act as a counterirritant and used for aches and pains
Ipecacuan- used sparingly on the expedition, used to make the taker vomit
Jalap- a drastic cathartic used in Dr. Rush's pills
Laudanum- used to prevent diarrhea
Magnesia- a cathartic magnesium salt
Mercury Ointment- used as a treatment for syphilis; used until the patient showed signs of mercury poisoning
Nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon- used to flavor the bad tasting medicine
Peruvian bark- a tonic used for fever, snakebites, abdominal pain, and many other problems; most used medicine on the trip
Rhubarb- powdered cathartic and purgative
Sugar of Lead- eye wash solution
Tartar emetic- an antimony-potassium compound, which produced vomiting
Tragacanth- non-greasy lubricant used in lotions and emollients
Turkish opium- used to relieve pain and lessen nervous excitability; mixed with alcohol to make laudanum
White vitriol- zinc sulfate used with lead acetate in captain's eye wash; only four ounces carried on expedition
Wine and Whiskey (30 gallons)- "medicinal" by Dr. Rush's perscripition; ran out on July 4, 1805
Insturments and Other Supplies
Best Lancets- used in procedure of bloodletting
Clyster syringe- a large syringe used to admisister enemas
"Emplast. Diach. S."- lead oleate used to apply to the skin after spread with mediciation on muslin or leather
Pocket Insturments- small surgical insturments
Teeth Instruments- dental instruments
Tourniquet- insturment used to stop blood circulation to an area
Patent lint- used to patch wounds like Lewis's gunshot wound
All of these intruments and medicines were keep in a walnut chest and pine chest
Balasm Copaiba- an oily sunstance from a South American tree that was used as a carminative. diuretic, or orally as a treatment for ghorrhea
Balsamum traumaticum- contains benzion, aloes, and balsamto treat respiratory problems such as inflamation of the nose, throat, and bronchi
Calamine Oitment- mixtrure of zinc oxide and ferric oxide to treat skin irritation
Calomel- mercury chloride used as a purgative; main ingredient of Dr. Rush's pills
Cream of Tartar- derived from grape juice and put into wine casks with yeast to produce a purgative
Dr. Rush's Pills- a combination of calomel and jalap to be used as a purgative; high amount of mercury; Lewis brought 50 dozen
Epispastric Ointment- used to produce blisters to withdraw the fluid from deeper tissue
Glauber's Salts- a saline cathartic to produce purging
Gum Camphor- stimulant and diaphoretic; also used on skins to act as a counterirritant and used for aches and pains
Ipecacuan- used sparingly on the expedition, used to make the taker vomit
Jalap- a drastic cathartic used in Dr. Rush's pills
Laudanum- used to prevent diarrhea
Magnesia- a cathartic magnesium salt
Mercury Ointment- used as a treatment for syphilis; used until the patient showed signs of mercury poisoning
Nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon- used to flavor the bad tasting medicine
Peruvian bark- a tonic used for fever, snakebites, abdominal pain, and many other problems; most used medicine on the trip
Rhubarb- powdered cathartic and purgative
Sugar of Lead- eye wash solution
Tartar emetic- an antimony-potassium compound, which produced vomiting
Tragacanth- non-greasy lubricant used in lotions and emollients
Turkish opium- used to relieve pain and lessen nervous excitability; mixed with alcohol to make laudanum
White vitriol- zinc sulfate used with lead acetate in captain's eye wash; only four ounces carried on expedition
Wine and Whiskey (30 gallons)- "medicinal" by Dr. Rush's perscripition; ran out on July 4, 1805
Insturments and Other Supplies
Best Lancets- used in procedure of bloodletting
Clyster syringe- a large syringe used to admisister enemas
"Emplast. Diach. S."- lead oleate used to apply to the skin after spread with mediciation on muslin or leather
Pocket Insturments- small surgical insturments
Teeth Instruments- dental instruments
Tourniquet- insturment used to stop blood circulation to an area
Patent lint- used to patch wounds like Lewis's gunshot wound
All of these intruments and medicines were keep in a walnut chest and pine chest
