DNA test could shed light on Lincoln's last days, doctor says

(CNN) -- Was President Abraham Lincoln dying of a rare genetic disease when an assassin killed him in 1865?

A California doctor believes so -- and he hoped to prove his theory by testing the 16th president's DNA.

Dr. John Sotos asked a small Philadelphia museum for blood-stained threads from a scrap of the pillow that cradled Lincoln's head as he lay dying.

On Monday night, the board of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library denied his request but left the door open for a possible DNA test that could shed light on Lincoln's last days.

The museum plans to convene a forum of Lincoln scholars and forensic pathologists to decide how to proceed.

"We want complete control over this," said Eric Schmincke, the board's president. "We don't want to take the chance of losing the artifact."

The museum did not rule out the possibility of arranging tests. Museum board members declined to speculate on what kinds of tests could be carried out if experts conclude that such testing would not damage the scrap of pillow that is stained with Lincoln's blood.

Sotos is urging DNA tests in the belief that those examinations would prove that the president suffered from a condition known as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B, which spurs nerve cells and bones to excessive growth.

All patients with that condition develop thyroid cancer without treatment; half also will get adrenal gland tumors.

Sotos argued that the tests could yield a new understanding of the final months of Lincoln's presidency.

"We know how Lincoln died. I am more interested in how he lived," said Sotos, a cardiologist and author who lives in Palo Alto, California.

"I would ask the historians how some knowledge of approaching death would influence the conduct of the presidency during a war," said Sotos, author of "The Physical Lincoln" and a consultant on the TV series "House." "His attitude toward the South was incredibly forgiving in the few days he had."

The doctor's request stirred a debate about ethics and history.

"This is to the Civil War what the Shroud of Turin is to Jesus' burial," said Andy Waskie, a historian and museum board member. "It's a sacred trust from the veterans themselves. They passed it on to us and trusted us to protect it."

The fragment that Sotos asked to test measures about three-eighths of an inch by 5 inches. A group of Union veterans gave the museum the relic, which was obtained from Lincoln's deathbed by someone who was there when he died.

Board members such as Schmincke opposed the doctor's request, fearing that removing even a few strands of thread for DNA testing would damage the relic. Schmincke also discounted the prospects of any new historical insights based on the test results.

"Why should we question whether or not he had a disease?" he asked. "What's it going to prove? It's not going to make the outcome of the Civil War any different."

Schmincke said he is not concerned about Sotos' research but does worry that other Lincoln researchers could misinterpret or misuse information from a DNA test. That's one of the issues the board hopes the expert panel will help resolve.

"We want to respect the memory of Lincoln, not dig in the past and make up things that aren't there," Schmincke said.

As evidence that the president had multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B, Sotos has cited his long limbs, bumps on his lips and problems with constipation, all classic symptoms of the rare genetic syndrome.

But Sotos says the key piece of evidence lies in Lincoln's family.

"It is the Lincoln children who make me very confident," he said.

Three of Lincoln's sons died young. Each had bumpy lips. His surviving son, Robert, lived to 82 and did not have bumpy lips.

Sotos also cites evidence that Lincoln had developed signs of cancer.

"He did have symptoms," the cardiologist said. "He had a profound change in appearance during the final year of his presidency. He lost a lot of weight during his presidency, and he complained of being tired all the time."

If Lincoln did have the rare genetic syndrome, Sotos said, in a man of his age "cancer would inevitably exist."

Sotos added, "He probably knew something was horribly wrong. If Lincoln was dying, certainly he recognized it because he was a smart and observant man ... but [because of the military implications] he would not have told a soul."

Sotos is convinced that Lincoln was dying even before the assassin struck. After the museum board's decision on Monday night, however, he'll have to wait to learn whether science will ever prove or refute his theory about the 16th president.

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Buffalo said:

I did a quick search to see if there are any living direct descendant of Abe Lincoln. There is none. Does Lincoln Have Any Living Descendants?

If Dr. Sotos want his DNA, why doesn't he check to see if any of the direct descendant had left tissue behind? I have heard of some hospital holding on the tissue for some reason. If it is genetic and can be passed on to the children, then he can go a different route than asking for a sample from that pillow.

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Jolie77 said:

Interesting.

It may be an good idea to do such experiments on the DNA case but I don't see any reason to because the more they allow Lincoln's DNA to be experimented - it could lead to a lot of more artifacts that could be destroyed. That's something that should not be happening.

We have been told that Lincoln possibly has Marfan's Syndrome and some other genetic disease traits.

Why can't it be left alone? I mean - It's a great idea to do such research but I believe it should be left alone in order for it to be preserved.

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jillio said:

Testing a decendant's DNA is not the same as testing the deceased President's DNA. His decendants' DNA would not be the same as his.

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Buffalo said:

There are some hair from Lincoln in few of collections. (LINCOLN ASSASSINATION ARTIFACTS (where to find them) A Little Touch of History) I think they can get only mtDNA unless they can find follicle where the hair was yanked out rather than clipped. Dr. thinks Lincoln inherited this disease from his mother so mtDNA would do nicely.

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jillio said:

Yes, provided there is an intact hair follicle available.

But, personally, I just don't see the purpose. There are much more beneficial ways to spend research dollars and much more beneficial ways to use DNA testing. Suppose the testing is done and it is discovered that Lincoln had Marfan's Syndrome. What do we do with the information once it has been obtained? What purpose does it serve? What benefit does it provide?

JMO, but research and medical testing should have an applicable benefit to society. Its intent should be to improve a current situation. Otherwise, it is a waste of considerable money and time.

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Buffalo said:

Dr. Sotos's (along with deafskeptic and others) curiosity would be sastified and the money should come from Dr. Sotos not the research money. I am sure he can afford it. And it would end the debate once for all.

My concern is how do we know that the pillow swatch actually came from Lincoln? I know of some of the religious relics had to be fake because if you collect all of the items from a certain object and you will end up with surplus. I don't want to say exact what it was as I don't want to start religious debate in this thread. You get my point on what we should test on. I think we should test on what we know that Lincoln owned like that stovepipe hat. I just hope that nobody else had tried on that hat.

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