letters (correspondence)

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.

Kean declines to write a chapter for Hench's book. He comments on the book's preparation.

Kean discusses Lazear's discovery of intrinsic and extrinsic incubation in mosquitoes.

Kean relates the history of the Kissinger family in their desire to obtain money and how Peabody organized the Kissinger Relief Fund. Kean goes on to say that there was an error in a pamphlet published by Peabody in the amount of pension money to be given to the Kissinger family.

Kean discusses "Special Order 83," issued by the Department of Western Cuba.

Kean sends Hench letters (not included) from Finlay and gives Hench a very positive description of Guiteras.

Kean comments on an interview with Reed's children. He explains the reasons Reed obtained two medical degrees after his graduation from the University of Virginia.

Kean recalls that Howard's play, “Yellow Jack,” incorrectly shows Lazear infecting XY without his consent.

Moran wants Kean to explain to Nogueira that there shouldn't be any hostility between Cuba and the U.S. caused by distinguishing between Finlay “discovering” the mosquito theory and Reed “demonstrating” the theory. Kean also mentions his letter to Moran about Guiteras' speech given in Havana in 1900, which gives a proper analogy for the Finlay--Reed discovery.

Kean shares family news. He is glad to receive copies of Walter Reed's diplomas and describes Truby's visit. He is relieved to hear that Building No. 1, at Camp Lazear, will be preserved.

Kean discusses his case of yellow fever. He maintains that there is no proof Ames ever contracted yellow fever. He writes that Lazear conducted secret experiments, and discusses Moran's draft of his memoirs.

Kean feels Moran is too contentious about the Cuban medical profession taking all the credit for the yellow fever discovery. Kean tells Hench the advice he gave Moran about how to approach his autobiography, or memoirs, without angering the Cubans.

Kean remembers a conversation with Gorgas, who believed that Reed had found a way of producing mild, non-fatal yellow fever. As such, Gorgas planned to start inducing experimental cases. Kean comments on the planned commemoration of Reed by the Fourth International Congress of Tropical Medicine and Malaria. He hopes that they will include a Cuban speaker for the event.

Kean discusses Wallace Forbes, a yellow fever volunteer who disappeared November 24, 1926 while in the service. He suggests that Forbes' medal be given to his sister.

Kean discusses the honorary degree given to Reed by Harvard University. Reed considered this one of the greatest honors in his lifetime. There is also a discussion of the proper quotation for the honorary tablet outside of the room where Reed died.

Kean discusses the career of McCoy. He answers Hench's questions from a previous letter. According to Kean, Gorgas initially rejected Reed's mosquito theory.

Kean relates the incident in which Carroll broke quarantine and ruined the validity of the experiment. Reed told Kean that he was quite irritated with Carroll's actions.

Kean informs Hench that Laura Wood was at the Library of Congress looking through her father's papers and was surprised to learn that there were no diaries for 1900 and 1901. Kean has told her that Hench is trying to determine whether her father or Gorgas initiated the war against the mosquitoes.