Here is my family story - this is definitely true as the disease in question was passed down to a distant cousin of mine who, fortunately for her, was cured of it. The disease in question, called "disseminated lupus", is passed only through the female line, and affects only women. I believe my gr-gr-grandmother Eleanor Doman (or Dolman) suffered from it. She was born in Derry Hill (near Calne) in 1852, daughter of George Doman and Elizabeth Holley (b. 1912, Calne). I do not have a confirmed female line back from here, but I believe it to be Sarah Godwin (b. 1783, Bremhill), Susannah Hunt (b. 1753, Bremhill) and Sarah Bodman (b.c. 1720). Has anyone else heard of this disease (or similar) being passed through their family? Best wishes Clive Henly Chippenham