What Is Pernicious Anemia?

Fans of Downton Abbey were introduced to two "incurable" diseases during Sunday night's finale; Pernicious Anemia and Essential Tremor.

Pernicious Anemia, also known as "PA," is a condition in which the body can't make enough red blood cells because of a vitamin B12 deficiency. The cure is easy, take B12 pills or injections.

But wait, in 1925, the time period of the final episode, B12 pills and injections did not exist. A "cure" for PA was not discovered until 1926. Three British doctors, Minot, Murphy and Whipple, found that if PA victims ate at least one-half pound of raw liver, or drank raw liver juice, every day they would be fine.

One-half a pond of raw liver? Every day? Better than dying? You decide.

A super-concentrated liver extract 50 to 100 times more potent than the natural liver was created in 1928. The extract could be injected, eliminating the need to eat raw liver or drink raw liver juice. B12 was discovered in 1948 and only then was the liver cure abandoned.

Essential Tremor look's like Parkinson's, but is not. It is a debilitating condition that causes shaking in the hands or any other part of the body during voluntary movements such as eating, writing or, in Carson's case, pouring wine.

The cause is unknown. There are several treatments for ET, but not all patient's respond. More about ET here: Facts About Essential Tremor..

By the way, Downton's creator, Julian Fellowes also suffers from ET.