Mosquitoes

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

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.

Reed teases his wife.

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.

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.

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

Reed discusses finances and his plans for Keewaydin. He describes a visit inland and jokes about his weight.

Reed teases Emilie Lawrence Reed. His colleague McConnell will be visiting her. Reed mentions a drawing of mosquitos.

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

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 states that the mosquito theory for the propagation of yellow fever is a fact, not a theory. Reed's postscript gives credit to Kean for cleaning measures against the mosquito. [Reed mistakes the year, it should be 1901, not 1900.]