Ridiculous History CLASSIC: The Ridiculously Laxative-laden Journey of Lewis and Clark
Aug 30, 2025
In this whimsical journey, the hosts hilariously delve into the digestive dilemmas faced by Lewis and Clark. They explore how unconventional remedies, like 'Thunderbolts' and calomel, became essential for the expedition. An absurd fictional ad for miraculous cures adds to the laughter, while archaeological insights reveal the dark side of their medicinal choices. With humorous anecdotes about restroom struggles and unexpected laxatives, the podcast blends adventure with a cheeky take on history.
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Scope And Survival Of The Expedition
- Lewis and Clark set out in 1804 to find a river passage to the Pacific and spent 28 months on the journey.
- They traveled slowly from St. Louis and remarkably almost all of the party survived the expedition.
Rush’s Bilious Pills On The Manifest
- Meriwether Lewis consulted Dr. Benjamin Rush and the expedition carried Rush's 'bilious pills' as a cure-all for headaches, constipation, and other ills.
- These pills were popular remedies and were recommended by Rush to be given at early signs of disease.
Mercury’s Dual Role In Medicine
- The bilious pills contained calomel, a mercury compound that acted as a strong laxative in large doses.
- Small repeated doses caused mercury poisoning, while large doses produced rapid purging used intentionally on the expedition.
