Did Mary Lincoln Suffer from Pernicious Anemia?

[L Verge]

Thanks, Blaine. I did not think that my family was in the minority. Mr. Huntt (whom I happen to mention a lot) died in our house, his body was prepared there, and the viewing was held there in 1897. The same for his widow when she died in 1914. Even as late as 1931, my grandfather's death brought the same ritual in the Huntt home. I remember my mother talking about how difficult it was on her to have to keep sole watch in the parlor during the overnight period. She was just 17 at the time, but her 29-year-old brother had to remain well-rested to greet mourners and assist at the funeral.

There were five bedrooms in the Huntt home, so it was pretty difficult to avoid being in one in which someone had died. Even a cousin died there while visiting. He was a pre-teen who climbed the cherry tree and ate too many cherries. I think the cause of death was listed as appendicitis. This was around 1900.

P.S. My arthritic knees are now beginning to share their affliction with my lower back. I'm relieved to know that the stiff gait and tired feeling is due to that and not the other possibility... WAIT A MINUTE -- THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT! I hope y'all know what I mean...