RICHLAND, Wash. — The author of “Or Perish in the Attempt: Wilderness Medicine in the Lewis and Clark Expedition,” David Peck, M.D., will speak on the WSU Tri-Cities campus at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, in the East Building Auditorium.
Peck, a family practitioner in
“The medicine of the era was quirky and, by today’s standards, absurd,” Peck said. “Nevertheless, it makes for a great story of adventure, hardships overcome and great excitement.”
His presentation includes an overview of the expedition and some key “wilderness” medical events that occurred during the trip. The program is filled with images of the Lewis and Clark Trail, as Peck engages the audience with the skill of an accomplished storyteller, imparting the enthusiasm, excitement and adventure of this historic American exploration.
Peck’s book, published in 2002, is now considered to be the definitive look at the medical aspects of the Corps of Discovery.
“This all started after I went to a wilderness medicine conference some years ago and realized all the things that were being talked about – what medicine was like in the first years of the 19th century – were stories about Lewis and Clark, but none of the presenters were talking about Lewis and Clark. So, with just a little encouragement, I started on the book project,” Peck said.
The presentation is co-sponsored by WSU Tri-Cities, the Columbia River Exhibition of Science, History and
