"Herndon was born mediocre"

[RJNorton]

Hi Gloria. The only thing I can think of on this regards a show on NGC in 2011 titled Lincoln's Secret Killer. Dr. John Sotos, who had been denied a DNA request by at least one museum, tested what he was told was a small piece from Laura Keene's dress. The piece allegedly had Lincoln's blood on it. Personally, I am one who has questioned whether the blood on Keene's dress was Rathbone's or Lincoln's. So I have no idea whose blood Dr. Sotos was really testing (my opinion is that it's Rathbone's). The purpose of the test was not to test for syphilis; rather Dr. Sotos believes that Lincoln suffered from a rare genetic cancer syndrome called MEN2B (multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2B). He feels Lincoln had less than a year to live. Anyway, the tests performed were inconclusive for MEN2B. But Dr. Sotos has continued his search for Lincoln's DNA by contacting private collectors. I think the Petersen House has a pillowcase Lincoln bled on, but I am unsure if other pillowcases he bled on are in private collections. Maybe someone here will know.