Sex, STDs, and the Lewis & Clark Expedition
The epic journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark across the uncharted American West has long been celebrated as one of the most remarkable feats of exploration in U.S. history. But beneath the heroic narrative of adventure and scientific discovery lies a more uncomfortable, yet historically vital reality: venereal disease—particularly syphilis—was a constant and deeply disruptive problem for the men of the expedition. It was a hidden affliction that not only shaped individual fates but also reflected the broader medical, social, and sexual dynamics of early 19th-century America. DON'T…
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