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A museum plans tests of Lincoln's blood

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-06 09:56

WASHINGTON  – A museum in Philadelphia that possesses a sample of Abraham Lincoln's blood plans to submit the relic to scientific analysis in hopes of shedding light on the mysterious ailments that afflicted the 16th US president.

The statue of the 16th President of the US Abraham Lincoln is seen inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. A museum in Philadelphia that possesses a sample of Abraham Lincoln's blood plans to submit the relic to scientific analysis in hopes of shedding light on the mysterious ailments that afflicted the 16th US president. [Agencies]

The Grand Army of the Republic Museum's board unanimously approved "further investigation into the sciences, legacy and history of the artifact," its vice president Andy Waskie told AFP.

The artifact is a piece of bloodstained pillow taken from the Peterson house where Lincoln died in 1985 after being shot by an assassin in Fords Theater in Washington, said Waskie, a historian and professor at Temple University.

Acting on the advice of experts and scientists, the museum wants to plumb the sample for evidence of the numerous maladies that Lincoln was supposed to have had.

"There are a number of investigators who are looking into Lincoln's physical state; there is always been some fascination about that," he said.

"Categorically we are going to continue with the investigation," he said. "It may lead to DNA analysis. We feel it will not damage the artifact in an great extent."

According to some theories, Lincoln was suffering from cancer at the time of his death at age 56 of a gunshot to the head.

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John Sotos, who has written books on the subject of Lincoln's health and will be among the researchers examining the blood sample, believes Lincoln suffered from Marfan syndrome.

A genetic disorder of the conjunctive tissues, Marfan syndrome is characterized by long limbs, premature cataracts or glaucoma, heart problems and often premature death.

Lincoln also is believed to have suffered from chronic depression, which he himself referred to as "melancholy."

Even his paternity has been questioned by experts, said Waskie, adding, "It may come out of the investigation."

"It's almost like CSI, we are doing a detective investigation," he said, referring to the television series that dramatizes the use of modern forensics in solving crimes. "Was Lincoln suffering from an incurable disease? Was he going to die anyway?"

The museum hopes to present the experts' conclusions this year as part of the celebrations marking Lincoln's 200th birthday, which was February 12.