A Deadly Frontier Disease
In the early 1800s, a mysterious illness called “milk sickness” plagued Midwestern settlers. Those afflicted suffered weakness, vomiting, and sometimes death. Many attributed it to curses or poisonous vapors, with no clear cause in sight.
Doctor Anna’s Search for Answers
Anna Pierce Hobbs, a midwife in Illinois, noticed the disease was seasonal, suggesting plants might be responsible. After losing family members to milk sickness, she tracked cattle through the woods and met a Shawnee woman who showed her a plant called white snakeroot. Anna observed that this plant poisoned animals, causing the symptoms she’d seen.
Protecting Her Community
Anna warned locals to destroy white snakeroot, saving countless lives. She grew a garden of it for identification, sharing her findings, but few took notice, and milk sickness persisted.
Science Catches Up
It wasn’t until 1927 that scientists confirmed white snakeroot’s toxicity. Although Anna’s pioneering work was largely forgotten, her findings paved the way for understanding and controlling milk sickness.
The Midwife Who Solved the Mystery of “Milk Sickness” 🤒
A Deadly Frontier Disease
In the early 1800s, a mysterious illness called “milk sickness” plagued Midwestern settlers. Those afflicted suffered weakness, vomiting, and sometimes death. Many attributed it to curses or… pic.twitter.com/UMLwpXdNJU— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) November 3, 2024