The Blue People Of Troublesome Creek (Kentucky)

Science ^ | November, 1982 | Cathy Trost

[blam]

THE BLUE PEOPLE OF TROUBLESOME CREEK

The story of an Appalachian malady, an inquisitive doctor, and a paradoxical cure.

by Cathy Trost
©Science 82, November, 1982

Six generations after a French orphan named Martin Fugate settled on the banks of eastern Kentucky's Troublesome Creek with his redheaded American bride, his great-great-great great grandson was born in a modern hospital not far from where the creek still runs.

The boy inherited his father's lankiness and his mother's slightly nasal way of speaking.

What he got from Martin Fugate was dark blue skin. "It was almost purple," his father recalls.

Doctors were so astonished by the color of Benjy Stacy's skin that they raced him by ambulance from the maternity ward in the hospital near Hazard to a medical clinic in Lexington. Two days of tests produced no explanation for skin the color of a bruised plum.

A transfusion was being prepared when Benjy's grandmother spoke up. "Have you ever heard of the blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek?" she asked the doctors.

[blam]

Ping.

[Indy Pendance]

Fugate Family: Blue People of Kentucky

[MarMema]

Wow, thanks.

[Congressman Billybob]

This most interesting article suggests by analogy why it is dangerous for Democrats to inbreed with Democrats. A not-so-recessive gene from both sides causes the appearance of a bright yellow streak all the way down the spine.

They are known as the Cowards of Manhattan Island. Friendly (and high-priced) Park Avenue doctors have taken it upon themselves to protect the privacy of the "yellow people."

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Congressmen, Humorists, Burglars -- All of Us in the Trade."

[AnAmericanMother]

Neat.

Glad the doc was able to find an easy and affordable cure for these folks.

It's not easy being green, nor blue neither.

[parsifal]

Must be where the Blue Dog comes from. Bump! parsy who sometimes gets the blues in the night.

[Redcoat LI]

That was great.

The banjo music is cool.

[parsifal]

Oh Wait! Is this caused by the "Blue Moon of Kentucky" Bill Monroe sang about? Or could it come from smoking blue grass? parsy who may have blue this one.

[cmsgop]

near Hazard

What The Heck?

That Friggin Roscoe........

[fhayek]

And all this time I thought Kentucky was a red state.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[fhayek]

Anyone remember Doug? There was a blue kid on that show. Maybe he came from Ketucky.

[OrangeDaisy]

If you're gonna be blue, Kentucky is the best place on earth to be. You don't even have to put on clothes to cheer on your beloved Wildcats!

[vetvetdoug]

Blam, where do you find all of these interesting tidbits?

Any self respecting veterinarian would administer methylene blue to an animal that is exhibiting cyanosis. I still have a couple of bottles of ancient methylene blue for use if I see a cow or horse with cyanide poisoning.

[Long Cut]

Remember THIS GUY???. I wonder if there's some distant connection...

[Texasforever]

We now know where the libertarian party resides.

[blam]

"Blam, where do you find all of these interesting tidbits?"

I had it bookmarked from years ago. After a discussion with a FReeper on the Marfan Syndrome thread, I decided to post it. I have (had) Marfan Syndrome in my family.

[blam]

"Remember THIS GUY???. I wonder if there's some distant connection..."

Yup, I remember that guy. Connection? Nah.

[Nik Naym]

This line's a keeper:

"If you'll notice,...I'm kin to myself."

Nik