Abraham Lincoln ’s life has provided material for scores of historians . But one aspect of his history is being investigated by a very different form of expert : geneticist . Lincoln ’s coming into court and aesculapian history have some convinced that he had a condition called Marfan syndrome .
Marfan syndrome is one of a family ofconnective tissue paper disorders — that is , condition that pretend the glue that holds the physical structure together . Itaffects many physical structure systemsand can be quite serious , but its most obvious signs are external : an unco tall , lanky stature ; and tenacious limbs , hands , and fundament — and if that does n’t describe Abraham Lincoln , nothing does .
The stipulation impact about1 in every 5000 the great unwashed , but because the syndrome is often inherit , many of the people who have it are touch on . And when one soul is diagnose , doc frequently come out looking at that person ’s pedigree . Such was the typesetter’s case of a 7 - year - erstwhile boy diagnose in 1964 . The diagnosing physician , a man namedHarold Schwartz , had traced his patient role ’s folk tree back more than 200 year , all the way to Mordecai Lincoln II , Abraham ’s great - great - grandfather .
Two class before Schwartz ’s discovery , a doctor named A.M. Gordondeveloped a alike theory , which he bring out in theJournal of the American Medical Association . Schwartz added his new grounds to the academic literature , and the argumentation began in heartfelt .
opponent of the hypothesis fence that Lincoln had never show any other symptom of the condition . He had no heart job , no lung topic , no middle trouble , and no overtly loose joints . He was 56 twelvemonth former when he wasassassinated , which would have been a pretty decorous lifetime for anyone in those days . ( Medicine has made peachy progress in its investigation of Marfan syndrome since Lincoln ’s daylight . While there is no remedy , the syndrome istreatable , and people who have it can expect to lead long , full spirit . ) And besides , the nay - sayers allege , if Lincoln inherit the condition from his paternal great - grandfather , how do we account for his mother ’s looks ?
This artist may have taken the resemblance a piffling too far . paint byLloyd Ostendorfvia Wikimedia Commons // Public orbit
By most accounts , Nancy Hanks Lincoln was the spitting image of her son , with foresightful limbs and a sad , melancholic face . A minister who was a friend of the familydescribedher as “ quite marvelous … bony , angulate , lean … She had long arms , big brain , with the forehead super all-inclusive … with dresser dip . ” Nancy died at the age of 34 , either from “ milk sickness ” or “ wasting disease , ” depending on which records you translate . Whether there were other elements involve in her death , we ’ll likely never jazz .
Her son is another story . Scientists discover the cistron relate with the stipulation in the 1990s , which suggested to them that genetic examination was potential , as long as you had a sample distribution of someone ’s deoxyribonucleic acid .
As it so happens , we’ve got that . historian have preserved a act of grim artifacts from the night of Lincoln ’s assassination , admit lock of hair , skull fragment , and even his line , which soaked into his surgeon ’s shirt sleeves .
Once scientists realized that they could potentially test the former President of the United States ’s DNA , a second question uprise : Should they ? In the nineties , the National Museum of Health and Medicinecreated a committeeof geneticists , lawyer , and forensic scientists , and left the decision up to them .
Those in favor of proceeding argue that , as an American hero , Lincoln could be a beacon and an divine guidance for people survive with the consideration today . Addressing the committee , one person with Marfan syndromesaid , “ The fact that Lincoln may have had Marfan syndrome prove those of us that we too can chip in something of economic value to society … It ’s time that all masses , especially aesculapian ethicists , realize that having the Marfan syndrome is not shameful , it ’s just darned inconvenient . ”
Those against emphasize how secret Lincoln was in lifetime , and stressed that to conduct aesculapian tests on him without his consent would be a huge invasion of that privacy .
The committee eventually adjudicate that , had he been alive , Abraham Lincoln would have go for to testing if the results could have help oneself other the great unwashed . Unfortunately , their decision was disputable . Additional Marfan - related cistron had been find during their deliberations , and a definitive diagnosis would not really be possible .
Did Abe Lincoln have Marfan syndrome ? We still do n’t know for certain . But even without an answer , the disputation about Abraham Lincoln ’s appearing continues to elicit public knowingness of a consideration impact thousands of Americans .
