Oregon+Trail+Research+CAJ

__ Fort ____ Laramie __ __ The scourge of Cholera __ There was no cure for Cholera. People could be healthy one second and dead within hours after. Often the victims wouldn’t even get a burial. They would just be left on their beds or along the side of the trail where animals often ate them. Sometimes 2/3 of a caravan was lost to Cholera. Cholera is caused by unsanitary conditions. Starts with stomach pain, intense pain within minutes, followed by vomiting & diarrhea causing dehydration, then the skin wrinkled, turned blue. If you didn’t die within 12 hours to a day then you probably would recover. Part of a worldwide pandemic (began in Bengal.) Traveled up Mississippi River from New Orleans. Was stoked by unsanitary conditions. Peaked in 1850. Adults from Missouri most vulnerable. Once past __Fort Laramie__ safe also once on Great Plains or high elevations safe. __ Problems of trail overcrowding __ Since the trail overcrowded there was a lot of garbage, lots of human waste, and a lot of shared water resources. Some of the diseases that people had were typhus, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, mountain fever, dysentery, cholera, and smallpox. The overcrowded conditions were a great place for these illnesses to thrive. __ The great trek of the Mormon pioneers __ __ Difficulties faced in the mountains __ __Cutoffs and alternative routes__ Barlow Cutoff- Was made to save effort and time. Was the most practical route but became less popular. Provided an alternate route to having to go over the raipds on the Columbia River. Later, a ferry was built across the rapids and then a bridge.