letters (correspondence)

Kean makes comments on the contents of the notebook found at the New York Academy of Medicine. He had recommended Carroll for volunteer commission of major, but it didn't happen. He discusses very positively the career of Russell. He thinks Andrus could sell his memoir for a good price. He includes a memorandum listing papers he read about the life and work of Carroll in 1907, shortly after his death.

Kean questions whether Ames' self-diagnosis of yellow fever was correct, because earlier he had claimed to be immune.

Kean thanks Hench for returning a letter from Truby. He clarifies the affiliation of Reed and other physicians involved in the yellow fever experiments as to Hospital Corps and Medical Corps, having noted an error in an earlier publication by Wyeth.

Kean sends Hench a copy of a letter he sent to Harold W. Jones, congratulates Hench on finding additional letters from Lazear, and mentions Andrus' book.

Kean commends Hench for his published article, expresses his pleasure in having read Roper's book on Reed, and sends news about Emilie Lawrence Reed's health. He also mentions the possibilities for publication of Truby's work and sends some newspaper clippings.

Kean informs Hench that he has discussed Lazear's lab book with Truby and notes areas where they differed and their final agreements. Kean and Truby agree that Ames' alleged case of yellow fever was an error in diagnosis.

Kean believes that the fever charts mentioned by Hench were probably copies of the originals. He doesn't remember much about his own illness with yellow fever except the headache and backache.

Kean sends Hench a copy of a letter Truby had sent to him regarding the introduction to the memoir he is writing.

Kean sends a copy of his introduction to Truby's memoir to Hench for his review.

Kean has been notified that he is to receive the Gorgas Medal for several accomplishments early in his career, including starting warfare on the mosquito in Cuba, initiating the legislation that created the Medical Reserve Corps, and for organizing the Base Hospitals in parent institutions.

Kean is concerned that he has wrongly portrayed Gorgas as slow in supporting Reed's findings.

Kean comments on Wood's manuscript. He believes that Reed or Lazear would have volunteered to be inoculated before Carroll. Kean suggests that Lazear believed in the mosquito theory and was the first to try it on himself.

Kean reports the death of a former participant in the yellow fever experiments. He is delighted with Truby's book and approves of Laura Wood's book on Reed. He offers his opinion on world politics and war shortages.

Kean encloses a copy of a positive review of Truby's book and makes comments.

Kean appreciates the copy of Reed's letter and photograph, although he is unable to identify anyone in the picture. He mentions a planned mural at a Cuban Military Hospital celebrating the conquest of yellow fever. After his death, his books will be donated to the University of Virginia.

Kean criticizes an article that claims Gorgas was ahead of his time when, in fact, he was slow to react to Reed's conclusions.

Kean discusses Finlay's mosquito theory and Reed's experimentation. He comments on a planned mural depicting the story of yellow fever in Cuba.

Kean relates a humorous anecdote about Wood. Kean goes on to discuss the problems of finding the exact moment when Guiteras was converted to the mosquito theory. He also discusses Pinto's role in the Yellow Fever Commission.

Kean comments on his future travel plans. He extends an invitation to Hench to study his personal papers.

Kean encloses a clipping of Lazear's obituary and thinks it may be of value to Hench.