Antiquated Antidotes

I have recently become obsessed with the old computer game, The Oregon Trail. Essentially, you become the wagon leader of a 19th century pioneer family who are trying to successfully reach Oregon. Over the course of the game you learn about some of the major setbacks that the early pioneers would have faced during their travels including disease, starvation, thieves, Indian attacks, natural disasters, high rivers, and over-exhaustion just to name a few. If this game has taught me anything, it is that one seemingly small set back can literally be the difference between life and death. I cannot tell you the number of times my wagon was nearing the promised land when a sudden disaster struck and took out multiple members of my party. Although simplistic in design, the game manages to leave you on the edge of your seat; never fully feeling comfortable. I can only imagine the grit and guts it took those people who really did set out in search of a new life. Many attempted to pass through the gateway of the American west but nearly one in every 10 died en route. In today’s post, I am going to discuss the number one killer that pioneers faced while traveling on the Oregon Trail; disease. 

You have died of dysentery. Peggy Anne has measles. Timothy had typhoid.

Conditions on the trail:

The Oregon Trail spanned roughly 2,170 miles from Missouri to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Travelers beginning at the furthest point in Missouri would have passed through portions of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon throughout the course of their journey. On average, the trip took most pioneers between five to six months to complete. 

Their days would have been grueling. Depending on weather, road conditions, and health, pioneers would have traveled between 8-20 miles a day. Summers were scorching hot and those unfortunates who found themselves still out during the winter months faced freezing conditions. Food supplies were often limited and families would try to supplement what they had with hunting and foraging. Dirty water and close living quarters assisted largely in the spread of disease. If one member of the family became ill, it was likely to pass through everyone. Women gave birth unassisted and families had to be their own physicians. People found themselves in the middle of nowhere; absolutely vulnerable to the wilderness. 

Diseases:

Some of the most common diseases that plagued the pioneers included dysentery, measles, cholera, typhoid, and diphtheria. Poor sanitation along the trail and meager diets left their bodies susceptible. The most deadly disease was cholera, which is a waterborne disease that thrives in stagnant, dirty water. It was said that a person who seemed in perfect health in the morning could be dead and buried by nightfall. Typically it took between 12 hours to 5 days for symptoms to appear. An infected person experienced diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, muscle cramps, extreme thirst, and restlessness. Cholera in the modern age is treated with rehydration and antibiotics. In the 19th century, they attempted to treat Cholera with Camphor which served as a painkiller and cough suppressant and Laudanum opium, an addictive sleeping aid. There have been numerous deadly outbreaks of Cholera throughout history. In the developed world Cholera has all but become a disease of the past but underdeveloped nations are still being impacted to this day.

Survival Rate:

The Oregon Trail is nicknamed the nation’s longest graveyard because there are thought to be about ten graves per mile. Somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 people died while traveling the trail and most of their graves were unmarked to prevent grave robberies and animal scavenging. The promise of a fresh start, acres of land, and appealing business prospects came at a high price. The fortunate ones who made it all the way to Oregon had the opportunity to begin a new life while the ones buried along the trail in unmarked graves continue to serve as a reminder of the true cost of expansion.

If you want to virtually attempt this arduous trip I have included a link to The Oregon Trail game HERE

Until Next Time

N.F.

Sources:

• “Cholera: A Trail Epidemic.” National park Service. Accessed 1 June, 2023. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/cholera-a-trail-epidemic.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20early%20years%20of,bound%20emigrants%20gathered%20to%20outfit.
• “Historical Trails-Dangers.” National Oregon/California Trail Center. Accessed 3 June, 2023. https://oregontrailcenter.org/dangers.
• “The Diseases of the Oregon Trail.” APHL Blog. 7 February, 2012. Accessed 1 June, 2023. https://www.aphlblog.org/the-diseases-of-the-oregon-trail/.