In Washington D.C., we are rightly focused on public health as our priority, but President George Washington was NOT an exemplar of good health. According to a book I am currently reading, “You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington,” which is also the subject of a PBS documentary, the President suffered from the following:
- Smallpox
- Diphtheria
- Malaria (multiple times)
- Tuberculosis (multiple times)
- Pneumonia
- Dysentery
- Epiglottis Influenza
- Carbuncle Melanoma
- Quinsy (infected tonsils)
- Carbuncle Melanoma
And of course, bloody pustules all over his body. He did not have any biological children, and some historians suspect he suffered from Klinefelter syndrome (however, he did adopt two children).
And of note, he blamed the British for introducing smallpox into America as a part of their well-thought out campaign of bio warfare on our country.
Due to these underlying conditions, our first leader died when he was 67-years-old, which proved how tough and strong he was as the average life expectancy during the time he was President was only mid-40s.
This is a great book to read. Amazing story, especially in today’s world as we are all living through a pandemic.
