Rush also suggests that the President, who planned each step of the expedition with almost preternatural care, gave no serious thought at any time to engaging the services of a physician, being content to let Lewis and Clark handle whatever ills and miseries might befall the party. To lead this parly he had selected Captain Meriwether Lewis-who would, in turn, ask William Clark, the brother of George Rogers Clark, to share the demanding duties of command. He will be in Philadelphia about 2 or 3 weeks hence & will wait on you.Īs Jefferson stated to Rush, he had just obtained from Congress the necessary authorization to send a party to explore the unknown reaches of the Missouri River and to find a route to the Pacific. For this purpose I ask the favor of you to prepare some notes of such particulars as may occur in his journey & which you think should draw his attention & enquiry. … It would be very useful to state for him those objects on which it is most desirable he should bring us information. Lewis my secretary will set out on it immediately & probably accomplish it in two seasons. Benjamin Rush, professor of the Institute of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the foremost American physician of his day:ĭear Sir: I wish to mention to you in confidence that I have obtained authority from Congress to undertake the long desired object of exploring the Missouri & whatever river, heading with that, leads into the Western ocean.

On February 23, 1803, Thomas Jefferson wrote the following letter to Dr.

Mustard plaster during civil war