| October 2, 2003 |
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Medical History of American Presidents
The  presidency definitely takes its toll on the few who ascend to the position. The man who leaves the White House rarely looks like the man who entered -- the weight of the world quickly grays the hair and lines the face of even the youngest and most spry. This site "tabulates the illnesses of American Presidents and other notable people" in hopes of opening up wider discussion of the issue. Every president hurts. George Washington suffered from many serious infections, including malaria, smallpox, and tuberculosis; John F. Kennedy was reportedly diagnosed in 1947 with Addison disease and his overall health was "a mess"; and Abraham Lincoln was color-blind and reportedly afraid of dentists. Some of the maladies documented hardly seem noteworthy -- the reference to poor Martin van Buren's malady of "bald and short" is a stretch -- but the majority of the information cited helps us all feel their pain. (in Health > Medicine) |
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