Human Experimentation

Kean writes about his rationale for remaining as Post Surgeon at Columbia Barracks instead of taking position at Fort McHenry, Baltimore. He comments on the lasting value of Reed's work.

Kean informs Nogueira that there were no deaths through human experimentation at Camp Lazear. However, Andrus caused Reed great anxiety because he had a severe case of yellow fever.

Kean comments on the attempt to add Ames to the Yellow Fever Roll of Honor.

Kean discusses a future meeting with Hench, his relationship with Reed, and his experiences with the yellow fever experiments.

Kean responds in detail to Hench's letter concerning the yellow fever experiments. He sends his diary from late 1900 and a copy of a speech at the dedication of Walter Reed's birthplace.

Kean compares the two methods of testing for yellow fever: mosquito bites and sleeping in the infected bedding. He claims that at the time of the experiments, the latter was considered more dangerous.

Kean reports that Reed requested $10,000 to conduct the yellow fever experiments. However, he is uncertain about where the financial records for the yellow fever study are being kept. He discusses an article written by Truby and encourages Hench to contact Thomas M. England, a former yellow fever volunteer.

Kean talks about Lazear's family and the location of his boyhood home. He also discusses the biography of Finlay.

Kean comments on the controversy over Agramonte's role in the mosquito work. He answers, in detail, questions based on Hench's reading of Kean's diary. He emphasizes that Reed never told him Lazear's infection was experimental. He believes Lazear's careful records enabled Reed to understand the yellow fever incubation period.

Kean points out misinformation written in an article about Kissinger.

Kean hopes Hench will act as the guardian of the Yellow Fever Roll of Honor and will see that no other person be included by Congress.

Kean does not think Carter or Ames should be in the yellow fever painting. He suggests individuals on the Yellow Fever Roll of Honor.

Kean is excited about the discovery of the notebook at the New York Academy of Medicine. He was immune to yellow fever - after having it in June of 1900 - so was not bitten as part of Lazear's experiments. He is pleased with the memoir of Andrus, and lauds him for submitting to inoculation as Reed had determined to inoculate himself if Andrus had not volunteered.

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

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

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.