Tag: Lincoln

Blue Mass

Blue mass was a popular medicine in the 19th century, most famously used by President Abraham Lincoln. It was a concoction primarily made from mercury, along with other ingredients like licorice root, rose water, honey, and sugar. It was used to treat a wide range of ailments, including constipation, tuberculosis, toothaches, and even depression.

Here are some fascinating points about blue mass:

Mercury Content

The primary active ingredient in blue mass was mercury, which we now know is highly toxic. At the time, its potential dangers were not fully understood.

Widespread Use

Blue mass was prescribed for various conditions, reflecting the limited understanding of medicine during that era. It was believed to balance bodily humors and treat “melancholia,” what we might now call depression.

Abraham Lincoln’s Use

President Lincoln reportedly took blue mass to combat what is believed to be depression. However, there are accounts suggesting that he stopped using it because he noticed it made him irritable and erratic.

Mercury Poisoning

Long-term use of blue mass could lead to mercury poisoning, with symptoms including tremors, memory loss, and mood swings. These adverse effects would eventually contribute to its decline in use as medical understanding progressed.

Historical Context

The use of mercury-based medicines like blue mass reflects the trial-and-error nature of early medical practices. It wasn’t until much later that the harmful effects of mercury were widely recognized, leading to the discontinuation of such treatments.

The doctor’s name is Mudd

According to a popular urban myth, the phrase “your name is mud”, or “your name has been dragged through the mud”, originated with the scandalous story of Dr Samuel Mudd.

After assassinating President Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth fractured his left leg (fibula) while fleeing the crime scene. On his escape route, Booth visited Dr Mudd who dutifully reduced Booth’s fracture, set his leg, and provided the fugitive with a splint and crutches. The doctor’s curious delay in reporting the incident to authorities implicated him in a presidential assassination conspiracy. Dr Mudd was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment; narrowly escaping the death penalty by a single vote!

Trouble followed Dr Mudd when an outbreak of yellow fever hit his prison in 1867. Once the prison doctor died in the epidemic, there was no alternative but to let Dr Mudd fill the vacant position. Dr Mudd’s efforts helped stem the spread of yellow fever at Fort Jefferson and saved many lives. The soldiers in the fort signed a petition, public opinion of the doctor softened, and Dr Mudd was granted a presidential pardon in 1869.

Despite those valiant attempts to redeem his good name, the doctor’s name would always remain Mudd. His conviction was never overturned.