Military Medicine

Kean makes a correction for Hench's publication on the conquerors of yellow fever.

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 expresses reservations about allowing Laura Wood Roper to view any contentious material in the Reed family letters.

Kean discusses Najieb M. Saleeby's report [01942002] and states that the epidemic as reported by Saleeby was either Dengue or Pappataci fever.

Kean states Carter was not in Cuba during the yellow fever experiments. He believes Truby's second manuscript is vastly improved.

Kean details his involvement in the National Memorial to Thomas Jefferson. Kean also discusses the publication of Truby's manuscript, his meeting with Carlos E. Finlay, and his understanding that Reed visited Carlos J. Finlay before any efforts were made to infect mosquitoes.

Kean thinks that Gorgas did not begin organizing “mosquito brigades” on Feb 4, 1901, the date of Reed's lecture on yellow fever in Havana. He believes that Reed abandoned the B. Icteroides theory, in July of 1900, and was ready to investigate the mosquito theory by August 1.

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 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 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 corrects a case of mistaken identity in a photograph Hench had sent to him, and provides details about his assignments in Cuba.

Kean provides reasons for infection of yellow fever at Columbia Barracks and possible ways to prevent spread of disease. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

[Kean] writes an endorsement concerning modifications to orders for the Superior Sanitary Board.

Kean cites a lack of support for sanitary measures by the Cuban authorities, and an increase in the incidence of yellow fever. He requests assignment of another medical officer to his staff.