A LISTING OF TRAPPER MEDICINES

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Introduction

 These notes are of the Materia Medica used by trappers between 1810 and 1840.  One secondary and seven primary references were used in this study, which focus on the later Trapper years–1825 to 1840.   The References for this review follow.

REFERENCES

• [William Marshall Anderson.]  Dale L. Morgan and Eleanor Towles Harris, Eds.  The Rocky Mountain Journals of William Marshall Anderson.  The West in 1834.  (The Huntington Library, San Marino, Cal. 1967).  NOTE:  Took the Santa Fe route.
• [James Clyman.] Charles L. Camp, Ed.  1792-1881. James Clyman. Frontiersman. The Adventures of a Trapper and Covered-Wagon Emigrant as told in his own reminiscences and diaries.  (Champoeg Press, Portland, OR, 1960)   NOTE:  The original diaries of Clyman, a Rocky Mountain Trapper, are owned by the Bancroft Library at the University of California.  The route he took for healing west was the Oregon Trail during its early years of increasing use.  Part of his travels also followed along the Missouri River, along White River and then through the Black Hills into Northern Wyoming.
• [Zenas Leonard.]  Milo Milton Quaife.  Narrative of the Adventures of Zenas Leonard.  A Native of Clearfield County, Pa., who sepnt five years in trapping for furs trading with the Indians, &c &c, of the Rocky Mountains.  Written by Himself.  Originally printed and published by D.W. Moore, Clearfield, Pa., 1839.  Reprinted by Lakeside Press, Chicago, 1934.    Bracketed page numbers in the materia medica text refer to the copy produced by University Microfilms, Inc., 1966.  Most other entries come from a review of Quaife’s rendering of this book.
• Rufus B. Sage.  Rocky Mountain Life: or, Startling Scenes and Perilous Adventures in the Far West.  (Dayton: Edward Canby, n.y.  NOTE: These events take place ca. 1842/3.
• [Jedediah Smith.] Alanson J. Smith.  Men Against the Mountains.  Jedediah Smith and the Southwest Expedition of 1826-1829.  (The John Day Company, New York, 1965)
• [Thomas Long (Pegleg) Smith.]  Sardis W. Templeton.  The Lame Captain.  The Life and Adventures of Pegleg Smith.  (Los Angeles: Western Press, 1965).  NOTE: Pegleg Smith is the nickname given to Thomas Long Smith.
• [Theodore Talbot]. Charles H. Carey, Ed.  The Journals of Theodore Talbot, 1843 and 1849-1852, with the Fremont Expedition of 1843 and the First Military Company in Oregon Territory 1849-1852.  (Metropolitan Press, Portland, 1931).  NOTE:  Includes “Notes of a Journey beyond the Rocky Mountains in 1843 and 1844 with the Expedition for the Exploration of Oregon Territory.”

Secondary References

Mari Sandoz. The Beaver Men.  Spearheads of Empire. (Hastings House Publishers, New York, 1964)

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For earlier times frames, review either French Canadian-Early Trapper writings or notes taken on the Travelers’ and Explorers’ writings.

The Explorers and Naturalists of the 1820s to 1840s (i.e. Edwin James’ Expedition to the Rocky Mountains and Fremont’s 1840s Expedition) will each be covered separately.   

Trappers and their medicines 

The earliest trapper years should have developed two groups of healers.  The fur traders whose work was overseen by the United States government would have had to comply with traditional Colonial (European) healing beliefs.  They would therefore have made use of the lancet, the blister remedy, Opium, Cinchona and some mineral remedies.  The Trapper on the other hand, would have learned the uses of the local plants.  As Creoles and other Metis, they would be more familiar with these local remedies than their newly-born United States counterparts.  

A good example of an early trapper’s experiences with learning the ethnobotany is portrayed in parts of Zenas Leonard’s writings. 

Theodore Talbot’s notes in part provide another example of brief, but useful text on the healing methods.  His recommended Rattlesnake Bite treatments appear much like Trapper’s (“Indian Doctors'”) notes, even though Talbot himself stated he lacked a knowledge of Indian Doctor remedies.  He possibly obtained his formulas for producing the plaster and the internal cures for snakebites from the French Canadians, who in turn had learned it earlier from the Natives.  Therefore, this fairly late writing, by a member of the 1843 Fremont Expedition, expresses some of the healing faiths of trappers, with added notions of “animalcules” and ligatures.  

An example of a poorly told rendition of late Trapper healing is that by Townsend.  A brief not is made on his work in a separate section due to the questionable reliability of his method of retelling his stories.  

Medicine Statistics from the Late Trapper Writings

The number of foods and medicines discussed in Late Trapper writings total about 70, three-quarter of which are Native American in origin.  About one-tenth of these Native American herbs are in turn due directly to French-Canadian influences.

With only these few French Trapper medicines to review, just two items stood out.  First these plants served mainly as foods, or were used in making plaster remedies.  The number of foods noted by United States Trappers make less comments pertaining to Native plants for food, relative to the greater number of drug plants noted in the Territories they trapped in.  This suggests that perhaps the French were slightly better trained or familiar with the edible flora of the Louisiana Purchase and Far West, which would make sense since they began settling along the Mississippi River Valley quite early in French Colonial and later Creole history.  This is further supported by the history of American Trappers, who were mostly from Kentucky, parts of Virginia, and parts of the Midwest.  Most of them were born in the very late 1700s, and did not become adventurous trappers until the very early 1800s. 

The allopathic implements or remedies definitive of this healing sect are items used for bleeding, blistering and plastering.  A few basic European herbs (most from colonial days) are to be noted as well, such as the diaphoretics for fevers, Opium, and mineral drugs.

Notice also when reviewing this data that acceptable plant names were not yet clear to the trappers.  Therefore European names are applied to Native American equivalents at times.   This happens most often in discussions about Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), but is seen in pertaining to other plants as well.  A substitute for Quinine was found quite early (Dogwood bark) in American history.  Substitutes were also discovered for other herbs, originally from England, now in need of replacement.   The Cantharides (an insect) Blister was replaced by Butternut Plaster during the Revolutionary War.  (Brought to the Americans’ attention by William Thacher and Benjamin Rush.)  Ipecac was replaced by American Ipecac, and the European Colocynth by American Colocynth.  The European Hellebore (Helleborus niger) had two substitutes:  American Hellebore (Podophyllum peltatum and years later–Bear’s Foot (Polymnia uvedalia).  Frangula (Rhamnus frangula, replaced by Cascara (Rhamnus spp.)), and Senna (Cassia senna; by American Senna) underwent similar histories. 

One advantage the French apparently had over the English during these early years was their understanding of he Perfume industry, the skills from which enabled them to perfect distillation of essential oils early on.  Therefore we see Wild and Domestic Mints (Peppermint, Horehound, White Ivy (Lamium album)) being used by trappers.

Most of the trappers medicines were native herbs, and their two animal sourcs for medicien were the Beaver (for castoreum) and the Buffalo (for gall).  This use of animal parts is common to Native American healing methods.  This perhaps explains why one the most important and therefore overharvested plants in the midwest came to be the Bear’s Foot, which was not only a cure, but also symbolized the healing power of the herb as it is told to the Native Ameican healer by the Bear, a common part of the various tribal belief systems.

Note the trapper medicines make large use of bark and root drugs, in accordance with healing traditions.  As Indian Doctoring came to be perfected in the early 1840s, we see more predominant features definitive of Native healing techniques.  For a more detailed coverage of such an example, see notes pertaining to William Dain, apparently a former-trapper, turned Indian Doctor, who wrote the recipes down for the Captain Solomon Tetherow Train to make use of from 1846 to 1847, on their way first to Sutter’s Fort in California and from there to Canada. 

The French Trappers brought Indian Doctoring into the United States and Louisiana Purchase by way of migration routes along the common waterways.  They made their way from eastern Canada into Central Canada, and from these places south into the United States.  They ealry Trapper Indian Doctor was most likely practicing in the rural regions along the two countries’ borders, and from there migrated along the St. Lawrence Seaway to find new rural places to settle.  By the mid 1700s, they were along the Mississippi, and by the end of the century (due to the wars in part) removed northwar to Canada, from where they again headed west to reach the true Northwest.  Therefore, these early Canadian Doctors had the chance to bring new healing practices into what would later be the United States by way of the Pacific Coast, the Midwest rivers, and the Ohio River-Great Lakes transportation Routes.  The fair density of population in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, kept these healers out of sigyht for the msot part until about 1815, when the popularity of trapping had increased, and Thomsonianism, a derivative if the Indian Doctor, began preaching its healing faiths. 

Following are analyses of early trapper medicines.

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ALL MEDICINES [Alphabetical List) [ca. 70 different meds]

• Absinthe–see Artemisia, Wormwood.
• Animalcules
• Artemisia
• Ash Tree
• Bitters–see Gall
• Black Cohosh–see Snakeroot, Black
• Black Currant–see Currant
• Black Snakeroot–see Snakeroot, Black
• Bleeding/Blood-letting
• Blister Plasters
• Boeuf–see Grains de[s] Boeufs
• Bois de bache–(def.) Buffalo Chips
• Botanical Medicine
• Box-Elders (Acer sp.)
• Bread-root (Psoralea esculenta)
• Buffalo
• Buffalo Berry (Shepherdia argentea)
• Bull-berries (Lepargyrea spp.)–see Grains de[s] Boeufs
• Butternut (Juglans cinerea)
• Cactus/Cacti
• Cantharides
• Castoreum/Castor
• Climatology/Climopathy [Precipitation/Weather notes]
• Common Saffron–see Saffron, Common
• Commote [French]
• Cottonwood (Populus sp.)
• Cottonwood, Sweet (Tilia heterophylla Vent./T. alba Michx.)
• Currants
• Daphne species
• Ecorce de Garow [French]–see Daphne species.
• Edible Rootstock [Camas? Lily?]
• Elm, Slippery, and American
• Farrier Notes
• French Trappers
• Gall, Buffalo
• Garou–see Daphne and Rattlesnake Bites
• Glauber Salt
• Goldenrod (Solidago species)
• Grains de[s] Boeufs [Bull-berries] (Lepargyrea argentea     [Nutt.] Green)
• Gunpowder
• Horehound
• Horses–see Cottonwood, Farrier Notes, Rattlesnake Bites.
• Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium species)
• Ligature–see Tourniquet
• “Magical Circles of the Prairies”
• Maple (Acer spp.)
• Medicine Bag/Medicine Wheel
• Mushrooms–See Lamb’s Quarters, and “Magical Circles of the       Prairies.”
• Oil/Oil Spring
• Physiognomy
• Plaster
• Pomme Blanc 
• Poplar, Athenium (Populus sp.?)
• Poultice
• Prickly Pear
• Racine de Tabac
• Rattlesnake/Rattlesnake Bites
• Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)

Roots and Herbs–see Poultice, Rattlesnake.

• Saffron, Common
• Sage (Artemisia or Salvia spp.)
• Sagebrush/Wild Sage–see Artemisia.
• Salt/Salts
• Salt Grass, Blueish
• Salt Weed
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
• Serviceberry
• Slippery Elm–see Elm
• Snakebites-See Rattlesnakes
• Snakeroot, Black
• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum sp.)
• Springs/Soda Springs
• Spurge-Flax–see Daphne species and Rattlesnakes.
• Star of Bethlehem
• Star Root–see Unicorn Root
• Starvation–see Subsistence/Sustenance
• Stones–see Talisman
• Subsistence/Sustenance
• Sweet Cottonwood–see Cottonwood and Cottonwood, Sweet.
• Talisman
• Tar, Mineral
• Tonics–see Bitters, Gall.
• Tourniquet (Ligature)
• Tulip Tree-see Yellow Poplar
• Unicorn Root/Star Root (Aletris farinosa/Veronicastrum sp.)
• Water, Mineral/Hot Spring
• Whiskey
• White Ash–see Ash Tree
• White Ivy Leaf (Lamium album?)
• White Walnut (Juglans cinerea)
• Wild Cherry
• Wild Sage Artemisia spp.)
• Wild Turnips
• Wormwood (Artemisia species)
• Yellow-Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium?)
• Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

NATIVE AMERICAN MEDICINES & FOODS (Alphabetical) [50]

• Artemisia (Sagebrush/Wild Sage)
• Ash Tree
• Box-Elders (Acer sp.)
• Bread-root (Psoralea esculenta)
• Buffalo
• Buffalo Berry (Shepherdia argentea)
• Butternut (Juglans cinerea)  [late Colonial]
• Cactus/Cacti
• Castoreum/Castor  [shared with Allopaths]
• Cottonwood (Populus sp.)
• Cottonwood, Sweet (Tilia heterophylla Vent./T. alba Michx.)
• Currants
• Edible Rootstock [Camas? Lily?]
• Elm, Slippery, and American
• Gall, Buffalo
• Goldenrod (Solidago species)???
• Ligature???
• Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium ambrosioides???)
• Maple (Acer spp.)
• Medicine Bag/Medicine Wheel
• Oil/Oil Spring
• Plaster
• Poplar, Athenium (Populus sp.?)  [European Name]
• Poultice
• Prickly Pear
• Rattlesnake/Rattlesnake Bites
• Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)
• Roots and Herbs–see Poultice, Rattlesnake.
• Saffron, Common
• Salt/Salts
• Salt Grass, Blueish
• Salt Weed
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) 
• Serviceberry
• Snakeroot, Black
• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum sp.)
• Springs/Soda Springs
• Star of Bethlehem
• Subsistence/Sustenance
• Talisman
• Tar, Mineral (Water)
• Tulip Tree-see Yellow Poplar
• Unicorn Root/Star Root (Aletris farinosa/Veronicastrum sp.)
• White Ivy Leaf (Lamium album?)
• White Walnut (Juglans cinerea)
• Wild Cherry
• Wild Turnips
• Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

NATIVE AMERICAN (by type) [43-46]

Bark Medicines [9]

• Ash Tree
• Box-Elders (Acer sp.)
• Butternut (Juglans cinerea)  [also late Colonial]
• Elm, Slippery, and American
• Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) 
• White Walnut (Juglans cinerea)
• Wild Cherry
• Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Root Medicines [4]

• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum sp.)
• Star of Bethlehem
• Unicorn Root/Star Root (Aletris farinosa/Veronicastrum sp.)
• Snakeroot, Black

Herb Medicines [6]

• Artemisia (Sagebrush/Wild Sage)
• Cactus/Cacti
• Goldenrod (Solidago species)???
• Saffron, Common
• Serviceberry
• White Ivy Leaf (Lamium album?)

Mineralia (Water) [2-3]

• Oil/Oil Spring
• Salt/Salts
• Springs/Soda Springs
• Tar, Mineral (Mineral Water)

Animalia [3-4]

• Buffalo
• Castoreum/Castor  [shared with Allopaths]
• Gall, Buffalo
• Rattlesnake/Rattlesnake Bites

Other Medicines [6]

• Medicine Bag/Medicine Wheel
• Plaster
• Poultice
• Roots and Herbs–see Poultice, Rattlesnake.
• Ligature???
• Talisman

Other (Foods/Medicines: Sap, etc.) [4]

• Box-Elders (Acer sp.)
• Cottonwood, Sweet (Tilia heterophylla Vent./T. alba Michx.)
• Salt Weed
• Subsistence/Sustenance

Other Foods [9]

• Bread-root (Psoralea esculenta)  [Food]
• Buffalo
• Buffalo Berry (Shepherdia argentea)
• Currants
• Edible Rootstock [Camas? Lily?]
• Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium ambrosioides???)
• Maple (Acer spp.)
• Prickly Pear
• Wild Turnips

FRENCH-CANADIAN REMEDIES [6-7]

• Tourniquet (Ligature)
• Castoreum/Castor                                [???]
• Gall, Buffalo                                         [Tonic]
• Commote [French]
• Ecorce de Garow [French]/Garou/Spurge-Flax    (Daphne species)                          [Plaster]
• Grains de[s] Boeufs [Bull-berries]  (Lepargyrea argentea [Nutt.] Green)       [Food]
• Pomme Blanc                                           [Food]
• Racine de Tabac                                 [Food]

ALLOPATHIC REMEDIES [13-14]

• Bleeding/Blood-letting
• Ligature–see Tourniquet
• Blister Plasters/Daphne species
• Cantharides
• Castoreum/Castor
• Glauber Salt
• Water, Mineral/Hot Spring
• Whiskey
• Goldenrod (Solidago species)
• Horehound
• Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium species)
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) 
• Wormwood (Artemisia species)

FOLKLORISH/DOMESTIC [2]

• Gunpowder
• “Magical Circles of the Prairies”/Mushrooms

OTHER [1]

• Physiognomy