"The Body Electric" is the twenty-first episode of season 5 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Brian takes a liking to visiting writer Walt Whitman, even when the townspeople shun Whitman over rumors of his alternative lifestyle.
This episode provides examples of:
- All Gays Are Pedophiles: Michaela becomes uneasy about Brian's friendship with Walt Whitman after learning that Whitman "prefers the company of men".
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: Mike and Andrew discussing treatment for Whitman, which at the time was placement in an asylum.
- Gossipy Hens: The entire town gets this after Robert E. overhears Preston and Andrew discussing Whitman's lifestyle.
- Historical Domain Character: Walt Whitman, of course. Peter Doyle to a lesser extent, as one of Whitman's known companions.
- Unusual Euphemism: When Andrew explains to Preston why he can't treat Whitman, he explains that he's heard rumors that Whitman is "peculiar", "a deviant", and finally fed up with Preston's lack of understanding, snaps "He prefers the company of men!"
