18. Mary’s Medication To Ease Her Pain May Have Contributed To Her Unstable Behavior.
Like everyone else, Mary Lincoln portrayed behavior that society didn’t deem appropriate during her time. Unfortunately, Mary lived under a microscope because she becomes the First Lady of the United States. During this time, Mary also dealt with a lot of physical and emotional pain. It became so bad that she took various prescribed medications.
In 1873, Mary’s doctor gave her a high dosage of chloral hydrate, which can contribute to hallucinations and paranoia. While no one can prove if the drug actually affected Mary in this way, her erratic behavior grew worse after she began taking the medication.
