Social history

Reed provides instructions to Emilie Lawrence Reed for garden work at Keewaydin, their Pennsylvania mountain home. He reports that their son, Lawrence, is well.

Reed gives instructions on gardening at Keewaydin. He also discusses financial affairs.

Reed makes plans for the Fourth of July, and he describes Cuban flowers.

Reed describes his laboratory, the hot weather and mosquitoes. He reviews work to be done at Keewaydin.

Reed reassures Emilie Lawrence Reed about yellow fever, claiming there is no danger. He writes about work done at Keewaydin and explains how he is organizing his laboratory.

Reed provides a description of his quarters at Camp Columbia and relates the typical schedule of his day. He laments the lack of rain for Emilie Lawrence Reed's garden. He discusses finances and political trouble in China.

Reed comments about the family. He writes about the English physicians Durham and Meyers, who are studying yellow fever.

Reed sees their son, Lawrence, in Havana. He enjoys a meal given for the English physicians. He discusses China news, and relays information about a transport from the States.

Reed is delighted to hear about the rain at Keewaydin. He teases Emilie Lawrence Reed and discusses gardening at Keewaydin. He says their son, Lawrence, is impatient for his officer's commission.

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 expresses empathy for his wife's gout. He writes that the experimental camp is almost completed and will soon be ready for work.

Reed appreciates Carter's support. He admires Carter's work in Mississippi.

Reed arrives in Washington. He discusses an article for the Journal of the American Medical Association and comments on the editor's changes. No promotion for Carroll is forthcoming.

Reed discusses the mosquito as the vector for yellow fever and the amount of evidence necessary to prove this hypothesis.

Reed writes a satirical letter concerning the appointment of the new Surgeon General, staff changes, and Kean's new position.

Reed considers Durham's work on a bacillus. Although there is no work for the Yellow Fever Board in Cuba at present, he advises Kean to maintain Camp Lazear. Reed discusses immunization against yellow fever.

Reed discusses the probability of a mosquito vector for yellow fever. He regrets his absence from Cuba. He will not experiment on himself, and anticipates a publication on the etiology of the disease.

Reed writes about field service in the Spanish War. He worries over his son's enlistment plans. Sternberg has proposed keeping all non-immune medical officers out of Cuba.