Thoughts from Mary's sister Elizabeth

[L Verge]

We had a mental situation in our family in the CW era related to sexual indiscretion of the manic variety. It was deemed to be the result of the lady becoming addicted to laudanum after being prescribed it to counteract very painful menstrual cycles. What was the cause, really? The medicine or her chemical makeup?

[Donna McCreary]

I have always thought that Julia suffered from hormone imbalances. How many 13 year old girls are ever, really "normal." When I taught high school, I found many of them to be flighty, moody, and some days just rude. Their bodies are changing; their hormones are raging; "normal" is to be abnormal.

Your question of the cause being medicine or chemical makeup is excellent. We do not know if Julia was given medication, but with so many doctors in the family, and living nearby in Springfield, she had easy access to medical treatment.

As for Elizabeth - she is not my favorite of the Todd sisters. Elizabeth complained about Lincoln and his inability to serve the country prior to the election. After the election she commented that Mary and Abraham would be living a life style that she did not desire. Yet, who was in Washington prior to the inauguration and ready to celebrate? Who was asking for a government position and hand out?
One of Lincoln's secretaries wrote in his journal that the White House was over ran with Todds - mostly of the Edwards variety. (not an exact quote)