Mary's Reputation

[Deb@Library]

I did check out the Vance book, read reviews, and discounted it handily. Has anyone read the Retrial of Mary Lincoln from April 16, 2012, moderated by Scott Turow? Sitting on the first panel, among others, are Jason Emerson, Catherine Clinton, and Bennett Leventhal, MD. Very interesting, especially when Dr. Leventhal speaks of the diagnosis between bi-polar and melancholia. With regard to substances, all we can really do is look at the times and behavior. Laudenum and chloral hydrate were widely used by Mrs. Lincoln and that much is fairly accepted. Emerson, himself, in this transcript cites Mary's great niece in 1950 speaking of Mary taking too much paregoric toward the end of her life, although he does not think there is evidence to support the others. So, it's not just from the Vance book. The transcript is an enlightening read between historians, physicians and lawyers.