Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Lincoln artifact sought for analysis

|
|
 
  
 
License photo
Published: April 13, 2009 at 9:38 PM

PHILADELPHIA, April 13 (UPI) -- Blood and brain matter from former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln that is on part of a pillowcase at a Philadelphia museum is being sought for DNA testing.

Scientists say they want the material, saying it could help solve a medical mystery -- was the president dying of brain cancer at the time of his death -- the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday.

Lincoln was assassinated 144 years ago while watching a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington.

Dr. John Sotos, a cardiologist, says he wants to test the pillowcase to confirm whether Lincoln had a rare genetic cancer syndrome called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B.

The pillowcase is held by the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library. The museum's board will decide how to proceed, likely at its May 5 meeting, the newspaper reported.

"This is the Shroud of Turin of Civil War history," said Andy Waskie, a board member, a Philadelphia historian, and an assistant professor of language and history at Temple University. "We are guardians in trusteeship of this extraordinarily important artifact."

The Shroud of Turin, which appears to bear the imprint of a man, is widely believed to be Jesus' burial cloth.

Topics: Abraham Lincoln
Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
'Snow White and the Huntsman' in London Queen Elizabeth waxwork at Madame Tussauds Street animals of China
Pet expo in Chile American Ballet Theatre's Spring Gala Soyuz rocket launches in Kazakhstan
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 31
Pres. Obama welcomes LA Galaxy, MLS's championship team to the White House
View Caption
fark
A new hero emerges in the quest to free OJ so that he can continue his search for the real killer...
The US war on Alzheimer's. Never Forget
Haitian immigrant, rescued at sea by the Coast Guard as a 6-year-old boy, will graduate from the...
New cut of beef discovered: "The flavor is comparable to the New York Strip Steak. It does not require...
Wal*Mart set to build Alabama location over burial plots of 80 slaves, stage most appropriate haunting...
67-year-old man dies after receiving lapdances. That's one way to get 10 dances in a row without...