Social history

Kean agrees with Hench that Kissinger needs to be cared for in a veterans' hospital and recommends one in Indianapolis. He also encloses a copy of a letter he wrote to Ida E. Kissinger.

Kean informs Hench of the improvement in Kissinger's health.

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

Kean explains how the letters b and v are used interchangeably in Spanish.

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

Kean enjoyed the “Hygeia” article and the reproduction of Cornwell's painting, of which he requests copies. He discusses some of the men on leave during the Yellow Fever Board experiments.

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

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