Mystery of Appalachia's 'Blue Family' solved

I grew up in the "tri-state" area, eastern Kentucky, SW, Ohio and western WV. I heard of these folks long ago. It really is unfair, as was mentioned previously, to call them inbred, which really does have a negative connotation. You have to remember that those were very different times, there were many fewer families in small rural areas. While the gene pool was small it was not a kiddie pool. I was surprised when I read this article though to find that the family was French. I was going to go the way of Billy Connelly's "Pale blue Scotsman".

I'm still not buying into the posted photo. They look too blue. Other pics of this condition show them as a blue/grey color.

I'm still not buying into the posted photo. They look too blue. Other pics of this condition show them as a blue/grey color. I thought that the whole photo is colorized, almost in a pointillist manner. Black and white photography was more common at the time when it looks like the photo was taken.

That would be awesome. I wish I was that color.

I thought that the whole photo is colorized, almost in a pointillist manner. Black and white photography was more common at the time when it looks like the photo was taken. That would explain it. I hadn't even thought of that.

I believe i have heard that having silver poisoning can also make you blue (skinned that is..)

Violet-you're turning violet.

well - thats what happens when ya shag yer sisters and mother!! From Abremelins link: There was intermarriage between the two clans, resulting in 25% of their progency being blue and 50% being asymptomatic carriers. (To be fair, I wouldn’t call it inbreeding. There were 2 different families and how are you to get around if no roads run by your house?!?!) All the same, fascinating, I thought only Scottish people were considered blue? (Saying in Australia because it is sooo bloody cold in Scotland)

Violet-you're turning violet. Rodger .... Rodger.

When I read the part where the blue sent his sick wife to the hospital, and the doctors payed more attention to him instead. I was like: rofl.