Measles And Dysentery: The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was a major part of out states history. Travelers ventured into uncharted territory and faced elements unknown. The journey was treacherous and stretched over 2,000 miles. Settlers faced death in many ways, but by far disease was the most gruesome.
Typhoid fever and Cholera were some common diseases they faced. These were spread effectively by drinking contaminated water. Other common diseases were Measles and Dysentery. Due to illness on the trail 6-10% of pioneers died on the trail.
Typhoid fever is a infectious disease caused by bacteria called Salmonella. The most common and major epidemics have been caused by contaminated public water supply and food and milk contamination. If it goes untreated typhoid fever …show more content…
proves fatal in 10-30% of cases. Human carriers of the disease are normally employed in handling and processing supplies such as flies, shellfish (mostly oysters), or untreated sewage.
Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated waters. Symptoms of cholera include sever diarrhea and dehydration. If left untreated it can be fatal in hours to even previously healthy people.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease.
It is located in the lungs and bronchus, this causes rash and fever. It is contagious and in some rare cases fatal. If a child is exposed to measles they will almost certainly contract the disease.
Dysentery is common but a potentially serious disorder. It occurs in the digestive tract and causes bloody and or watery diarrhea along with abdominal cramps. There are various types of dysentery, these include Bacillary, Amebic, and Viral dysentery. Two other types of dysentery are caused by protozoa and parasitic worms. It is also spread by contaminated food and water. Leaving this untreated for a long period of time is potentially fatal.
Many accidents happen along the Oregon Trail. Some major ones were wagon accidents, miss firing a firearm, or some animal attacks that become fatal when untreated.
The most common accident on the Oregon Trail involved the wagons. Many times people would slip getting out of the wagons and fall under the wheels. Children proved to be especially susceptible to being run over by the heavy wagon wheels.
No matter who you are, you can always have a miss fire with any firearm you use. This was common on the Oregon Trail and caused many deaths along with other …show more content…
accidents.
Animal attacks have always been a major problem for humans. Being on the Oregon Trail wasn't any different. Many times there were snakebites or things such as buffalo, wild dogs, and bears. Snakebites could be poisonous or get infected.
The most dangerous part of their journey was crossing rivers and lakes.
On the trail they crossed many, such as the South Platte, the North Platte, and the Laramie river.
The South Platte river is located in North East Colorado, Parts of South East Wyoming, and a small part of South West Nebraska. On their time crossing the river they lost many things. Most of the time it was loss of life, or loss of valuable things.
The North Platte river was located in Colorado. The South Platte was crossed prior to the North Platte. Some things that happen on this river were loss of loved ones, or serious injury. If animals got spooked or panicked they would kick and throw people around.
The last major river they crossed was the Laramie river, located right next to the North Platte. Just as the last two this river caused animals to get spooked, people die or get taken away by drift, and loss of valuables.
The Oregon Trail starts in Independence, Missouri and ended in Oregon City, Oregon. There was a total of six states to venture through. Those states were Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. Settlers may have faced many hardships getting here, but they never gave
up.
The Oregon Trail was very dangerous. Anyone willing to go out on the trail risked their lives. Once they reached Oregon they started branching out and settling. If they had let things like losing family to disease, accidents along the way, or even crossing rivers that were difficult to cross many of us wouldn't be here today.
Typhoid fever and Cholera were some common diseases they faced. These were spread effectively by drinking contaminated water. Other common diseases were Measles and Dysentery. Due to illness on the trail 6-10% of pioneers died on the trail.
Typhoid fever is a infectious disease caused by bacteria called Salmonella. The most common and major epidemics have been caused by contaminated public water supply and food and milk contamination. If it goes untreated typhoid fever …show more content…
proves fatal in 10-30% of cases. Human carriers of the disease are normally employed in handling and processing supplies such as flies, shellfish (mostly oysters), or untreated sewage.
Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated waters. Symptoms of cholera include sever diarrhea and dehydration. If left untreated it can be fatal in hours to even previously healthy people.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease.
It is located in the lungs and bronchus, this causes rash and fever. It is contagious and in some rare cases fatal. If a child is exposed to measles they will almost certainly contract the disease.
Dysentery is common but a potentially serious disorder. It occurs in the digestive tract and causes bloody and or watery diarrhea along with abdominal cramps. There are various types of dysentery, these include Bacillary, Amebic, and Viral dysentery. Two other types of dysentery are caused by protozoa and parasitic worms. It is also spread by contaminated food and water. Leaving this untreated for a long period of time is potentially fatal.
Many accidents happen along the Oregon Trail. Some major ones were wagon accidents, miss firing a firearm, or some animal attacks that become fatal when untreated.
The most common accident on the Oregon Trail involved the wagons. Many times people would slip getting out of the wagons and fall under the wheels. Children proved to be especially susceptible to being run over by the heavy wagon wheels.
No matter who you are, you can always have a miss fire with any firearm you use. This was common on the Oregon Trail and caused many deaths along with other …show more content…
accidents.
Animal attacks have always been a major problem for humans. Being on the Oregon Trail wasn't any different. Many times there were snakebites or things such as buffalo, wild dogs, and bears. Snakebites could be poisonous or get infected.
The most dangerous part of their journey was crossing rivers and lakes.
On the trail they crossed many, such as the South Platte, the North Platte, and the Laramie river.
The South Platte river is located in North East Colorado, Parts of South East Wyoming, and a small part of South West Nebraska. On their time crossing the river they lost many things. Most of the time it was loss of life, or loss of valuable things.
The North Platte river was located in Colorado. The South Platte was crossed prior to the North Platte. Some things that happen on this river were loss of loved ones, or serious injury. If animals got spooked or panicked they would kick and throw people around.
The last major river they crossed was the Laramie river, located right next to the North Platte. Just as the last two this river caused animals to get spooked, people die or get taken away by drift, and loss of valuables.
The Oregon Trail starts in Independence, Missouri and ended in Oregon City, Oregon. There was a total of six states to venture through. Those states were Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. Settlers may have faced many hardships getting here, but they never gave
up.
The Oregon Trail was very dangerous. Anyone willing to go out on the trail risked their lives. Once they reached Oregon they started branching out and settling. If they had let things like losing family to disease, accidents along the way, or even crossing rivers that were difficult to cross many of us wouldn't be here today.