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Historical and archaeological evidence of 19th century fever epidemics and medicine at Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver

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Abstract

During the Hudson’s Bay Company’s occupation of Fort Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest, fevers in epidemic proportions occurred intermittently throughout the late 1820s and early 1830s, severely affecting the Company’s employees, operations, and aboriginal population.

Evidence of these epidemics has been found in the archaeological record of a little known complex associated with Fort Vancouver. The investigation of 19th century medical beliefs and practices aided in the interpretation of site activities as responses to the epidemics.

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Carley, C.D. Historical and archaeological evidence of 19th century fever epidemics and medicine at Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver. Hist Arch 15, 19–35 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03374011

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