Human Experimentation

Reed relates that he is compiling statistics and writing a report for 1875.

Reed and Carroll are on board the Sedgewick, bound for Cuba.

Reed assures Emilie Lawrence Reed of his safety. He explains the circumstances of Jesse Lazear's death.

Reed remarks on Bryan's defeat in the United States presidential election. He describes various people at the camp. He discusses his work on yellow fever, including the possibility of human experimentation.

Reed writes that he has found mosquitoes and volunteers for his experiments, and will now proceed with the laboratory work. He comments on newspaper reports about yellow fever.

Reed reports that the experimental camp is nearing completion. He notes the effect of cool weather on yellow fever cases and suggests the mosquito as a vector for the disease.

Reed expresses concern for his wife's gout, but he also teases her. He relates a newspaper controversy over the yellow fever experiments, particularly concerning the American and Spanish volunteers, and consent forms.

Reed mentions the houses constructed at the experimental camp. He describes the experimentation methods and plans. He anticipates a trip to Keewaydin in May.

Reed describes methods of experimentation and the progress of the work at Camp Lazear.

Reed gives an assessment of the criticism directed at the experimental project. He believes that it is unfounded.

Reed writes of Emilie Lawrence Reed's health. He discusses finances and plans for their house at Keewaydin. He expresses concern over the experiments since they have not yet achieved positive results.

Reed writes about the possibility of Emilie Lawrence Reed coming to Cuba. He also describes the visit of the examining board from Havana, and records responses to the mosquito theory.

Emilie Lawrence Reed will not visit Cuba. Reed discusses additional research questions, including the larvae of infected mosquitoes. The experiment involving the injection of infected blood was successful.

Reed writes that he cannot return home. He describes the enthusiastic response to the experiments, and he prepares a paper for the Pan-American Medical Congress.

Reed reports that sixteen Cuban physicians have visited to confirm the experimental yellow fever cases. He responds to Washington social news.

Reed describes a dinner given for Finlay and the general acceptance of the mosquito theory. He will continue tests involving infected clothing.

Reed writes about Emilie Lawrence Reed's recovery, as well as his toothache. He discusses financial matters, including expenditures at Keewaydin. His last yellow fever patient is recovering.

This is the famous New Year's Eve letter. Reed's toothache requires cocaine treatment. Reed comments on La Roche's Yellow Fever (1853), and his own role in the historic discovery. He hears taps sound for the old year, and celebrations for New Year's Day. He requests orders to return to the United States in six weeks.

Reed mentions the sixth case of experimental yellow fever, and that volunteers have gone thirty-five days without contracting yellow fever in the infected clothing test. He describes the condition of a yellow fever case and an experiment with blood injection.

Reassures her; date of his return; safety of experiments; difficulties attendant on her visiting; he will return soon, in about five weeks.