Feel festive, but without all the chemicals
Maladies, mishaps, gunshot injuries, snakebites, and stampeding bison were among the culprits.
That's quite astonishing, isn't it? Nevertheless, it was indeed probable that you might meet your demise even before reaching your intended destination.
The Oregon Trail stood as a primary path to the Western frontier. During the span of the 1840s to the 1860s, approximately 300,000 to 400,000 individuals embarked on a journey westward along this trail.
European diseases, like smallpox, were introduced to the Americas and are believed to have wiped out around 90% of the native populations in North and South America.
Among these travelers, it's estimated that one out of every 10 people perished while en route to their promised land.
Yet, the challenges didn't stop there—there were many more. Pneumonia, dysentery, measles, and smallpox also claimed numerous lives.
Medical practitioners of that time relied on basic principles and often improvised. Regrettably, they overlooked a wealth of potentially valuable healing knowledge from local tribes.
While this might not sound like a significant figure, for comparison's sake, in 2020, the homicide rate for the entire country was approximately 7.8 per 100,000. Hence, the likelihood of falling victim to murder was markedly higher in the Wild West compared to today.
The arrival of Europeans in the Americas yielded devastating consequences for the indigenous peoples. The population, estimated at between five and 15 million initially, dwindled to fewer than 238,000 by the end of the 19th century.
Between 1876 and 1885, residents of Dodge City, Kansas, faced a one in 61 chance of meeting a violent end. The homicide rate hovered around 165 per 100,000.
Around 20,000 Chinese immigrants arrived in California in 1852 during the Gold Rush. However, they were required to pay in order to work.
Diseases and conflicts claimed the lives of countless Native Americans. If you happened to be a native person in the Wild West, your fate would likely involve premature death or forced relocation.
Certain saloons took creativity to new heights, adulterating their drinks with rather unpleasant ingredients, including gunpowder, turpentine, and ammonia.
Under the Foreign Miners License Law, Chinese miners had to fork over US$20 per month, equivalent to about $675 in today's currency!
Despite contributing to the country's growth, much like Native Americans and African descendants, Chinese individuals endured mistreatment, racism, and xenophobia.
Opting for a cocktail in the Wild West carried its risks. It was wiser to opt for a beer or whiskey at the local saloon. The reason? Well, a cocktail could prove fatal!
Beyond the lethal cocktails, alcoholism was a rampant issue. For many, it all began innocently, with sips from their parents' drinks. Eventually, this habit would transform them into heavy drinkers.
Whiskey, in particular, was abundant, making it the preferred choice of beverage for many who struggled with alcoholism. In the 1830s, a habitual drinker would consume the equivalent of 3.5 bottles of whiskey per week.
Mining in the Old West was a perilous endeavor. The California Gold Rush of 1849 lured countless individuals to try their luck, and naturally, there were no safety regulations at the time!
Mine explosions and collapses occurred frequently, as did accidents like falls from ladders and those arising from sheer exhaustion. As if that weren't enough, sanitation also posed a significant concern.
In 1998, excavations in the cemetery of the Old West town of Seven Rivers, near present-day Carlsbad, New Mexico, unearthed the circumstances surrounding certain individuals' deaths.
The precise toll from complications stemming from STDs isn't documented, but it's estimated that about half of the sex workers in the Old West were afflicted with some form of venereal disease. These afflictions were then passed on to their clients.
Miners dwelled in densely packed communities, often in precarious living conditions conducive to the rapid spread of diseases.
If illness struck and you sought a doctor's care, you'd encounter the peculiar medical 'treatments' available at the time, such as bloodletting.
One particular concoction contained strychnine. This toxic substance, when mixed with strong spirits, not only induced hallucinations but could also lead to death.
Sex workers did attempt to ward off such diseases using antiseptic solutions, although these mixtures contained potent chemicals like mercury, carbolic acid, and boric acid. Needless to say, excessive use of such solutions could be devastating for their health.
Diseases ran rampant in the Wild West, proving to be more lethal than bullets. Cholera, in particular, stood as a leading cause of death during that era.
The remaining individuals, including 14 children, succumbed to afflictions like dysentery, measles, and scarlet fever. Though most of these ailments are treatable today, they proved fatal in that era.
See also: Deadly diseases you thought were gone...but aren't
In total, 52 bodies were exhumed, with 10 of them meeting violent ends. Notably, one individual was fatally shot in the face by their own father-in-law!
And when all else failed, resorting to self-medication with alcohol or opium became the sole recourse. Sometimes, even both.
Interested in delving deeper into this untamed chapter of American history? Then saddle up and click on.
How wild was life in the Wild West?
Buckle up for the real story!
LIFESTYLE History
We've all watched Western films and seen various portrayals of life in the Old West, yet the question remains: just how wild was the Wild West in reality? As it turns out, it was pretty wild! In fact, they were savage times in which survival was an impressive feat...
Interested in delving deeper into this untamed chapter of American history? Then saddle up and click on.