Mosquitoes

Howard thanks Reed for the copies of two papers on yellow fever. He then corrects Reed on the proper way to spell out fasciata Stegomyia. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard inquires about the whereabouts of the mosquitoes Lazear sent up from Cuba. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard discusses his work with different types of mosquitoes. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard informs Reed that Dr. Coquillett identified the species of the mosquitoes that Lazear collected. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard tries to resolve Reed's questions about the markings of the mosquitoes, but also states that there is still work to be done in the identifying process. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard identifies the mosquito Reed is working as the Culex fasciatus. Howard appreciates answering Reed's questions and considers it a privilege. He then acknowledges receipt of Reed's report and informs Reed of his own upcoming publication. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard forwards to Reed a suggestion from Woldert regarding experimentation on mosquitoes. The actual suggestion, which was originally enclosed, is not included. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard informs Reed that Woldert recommends using kerosene to eradicate mosquitoes, and includes a postscript regarding the genus of the yellow fever mosquito. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard congratulates Reed on the success of his work and mentions he will quote Reed's work favorably in his upcoming lectures. He asks Reed to use care in saying anything about his connection with the kerosene remedy. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Howard indicates that he is not certain of the grounds for believing that there is another species of mosquito to be considered, but he makes a guess, and agrees that the distinction is important to Reed's work. [Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration]

Bell sends Carter a subpoena to appear as a witness for the Colleton Cypress Co.

[Laura Carter] writes that Henry Carter believes that parasites do not develop in mosquitoes below 61 degrees . He believes last year's cases of malaria were caused by females that had been hibernating.

Laura Carter sends Seward a copy of Frost's notes on Henry Rose Carter. [not enclosed] She describes her father's opinions of Strobel's, Nott's and Bell's yellow fever research and encloses a list of Carter's yellow fever articles.

[Laura Carter] sends Cumming a list of Henry Carter's articles at the Army Medical Museum.

Wood describes the notebook she examined at the New York Academy of Medicine, which is alleged to be Reed's. She thinks it is not Reed's notebook, but does find it interesting that the writer caught mosquitoes near a yellow fever outbreak in Havana and dissected them in the lab. She wonders if it is Lazear's.

Wood thinks the notebook found at the New York Academy of Medicine may be a disappointment to Hench. She describes how Malloch acquired the notebook.

Wood is sending Hench the last third of her manuscript and asks for his comments. She questions why Reed would have needed information about the insect host theory from both Carter and Lazear. She comments on meeting Blossom Reed.

Wood thanks Hench for comments on her manuscript - responding to some of them - and discusses her work. She used Ashburn's history of the Army Medical Corps for some statistics. Wood insists that Hench write his book on Reed because she feels it will be definitive.

Wood returns material, which Hench had loaned to her, and discusses her manuscript. The publication delay permits her to do more research on Lazear. Wood comments on a Reed family legend that is almost certainly apocryphal.

Wood discusses the upcoming publication of her book. Truby visited recently and gave her more information on the yellow fever experiments. She inquires if Hench knows who first volunteered for the experiments.