Tag Archives: larva migrans

June 12, 1930

Stationery from the Hotel Mayflower, Jacksonville, Florida – “Radio in every room.”

June 12, 1930
8 PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Arrived this morning at 7:30. I met a train for B but he did not show up. At Mr. Filby’s office I learned that B will arrive tomorrow morning and that he and I are going down the state. Mr. Filby and a number of the state and city Health folks are attending a meeting at Tallahassee today. I met Dr. Barker at the City Health Dept. He recognized me and spent about one-half of the day with me. We called upon everyone in that building and then one of the Commissioners, Dr. Baker had me eat lunch with him. He was very courteous and showed me every consideration. He planned an appointment for B and I for 11 o’clock tomorrow. The appointment is with Mr. Engle, one who has a half million invested in St. Georges Island, an island just across the St. John’s from Mayport. Think they are going to ask us to make studies down there. It is 20 miles from Jax.

June 12, 1930

This PM I called on Dr. Kirby-Smith at St. Vincent’s hospital. He had a nightmare a few nights ago and jumped from a window of the second floor of his home. Luckily, he landed on grass instead of concrete. His head missed the concrete just a little ways. He has some bad bruises on the face, hands and limbs. He hopes to return home tonight and to be in his office Sat or Mon. I did not see the children but his mother-in-law came while I was there. Kirby says the taxes on the new home amount to $100 per month.

The radio is giving me the WJAX program. I guess I’ll listen to the Sharkey fight.

Kirby says that he does not see as many cases of C.E. now. He thinks that knowledge of the causation and the publication of the news by the state Board of Health is responsible for the reduction in the number of cases. Kirby says they have published several short articles and that White and Dove have been mentioned several times.

With love,

Your
Walter.

Autumn 1929?

I can’t decipher a date on this telegram, but it’s probably from late 1929, when Walter and Dr. White received an award from the American Medical Association for their work on larva migrans.

CHARLESTON SOCAR 11 839A
DR W E DOVE. EXHIBIT BOOTH CONVENTION HALL
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSO

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH WE ARE SO GLAD LOVE
INA.

Autumn 1929?

May 10, 1929

Walter is now at Johns Hopkins University to defend his doctoral thesis, in which he worked out the etiology of creeping eruption (aka cutaneous larva migrans).

Wash DC – Friday Nite.

My dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday PM I posted a letter from Baltimore. It was written en route and a few notes were made on the envelope after I had visited with the Hopkins folks. I presume you received it Sunday AM by Special Delivery.

May 10, 1929

At the School of Hygiene I found everyone very cordial and with a glad hand. The thesis paved the way in a fine manner. Had lunch with the Med Zoo folks in the cafeteria at Dr. Cort’s expense. Learned that Dr. Root is to quiz me on protozoology in the oral. Dr. Ford (head of the Dept of Bacteriology) will give me the oral in the other minor. Dr. Ford is on my thesis committee, and I think Root is also. I did not learn the names of other members of the Committee. According to recent rules the candidate is not supposed to know who serves on his thesis committee. This gives the Comm. a chance to refuse a thesis without the candidate’s knowing who was responsible.

Had a talk with Miss Durham since I did not care to deposit $50. It will not be necessary to make the deposit. She said that my thesis was a “beautiful piece of work” that Dr. Ford gave a very good report on. He read it about three times, turned it in for binding, then the next day he asked to see it again. A copy was in his possession when I saw Miss Durham. She said he remarked of the beautiful work and etc. The praise gives me more confidence, but I am not allowing it to go to my head or to cause me to throw out my chest. Cort seems to be very proud of the showing of his Dept. He has all of the candidates this time, Root & Hegner have none this year. Hegner is en route to the Philippines. He will be there for a year.

Everyone asks of Mrs. Dove. Cort surmised that we would drive up and everyone seems disappointed that you did not come.

You will recall that Dr. Barlow worked out the life cycle of an intestinal fluke, and that he swallowed the flukes en route from China. He was at JHU about nine years ago. This year he returned in order to complete the work for his DSc degree. He expects to go to Egypt to work on a bladder fluke of man. It is likely that Mr. & Mrs. Scott will go with him. Scottee is the same as ever. Says the right thing at the right time. Next week I expect to become better acquainted with Barlow. I am to obtain a room at the same place, about 1600 block on Broadway. Will take two meals there, also. Will write more of JHU next week.

(Mr.) Dr. Radcliffe and Miss Capp were married about a year ago.

Dr. & Mrs. Huff have a boy baby. Dr. & Mrs. Anderwort have a girl. Both couples and both babies are in Boston. Dr. Simon died more than a year ago.

Saw Dr. White last night, today and tonight. Will see him again tomorrow. I did not arrive at the Bureau until after 5 PM but I made connections with him at Wallis Cafe. Tonight we ate at Allies Inn until they closed up. Then we drove about in his Buick roadster. He has a special horn on his car. It sounds like a bull calf. We had lunch this noon at the Chinese restaurant.

Mrs. Bishopp (steno) was disappointed that you did not come. It is such a beautiful time of the year, and you would have enjoyed it so.

The Bishopps invited me to eat dinner with them Sunday at noon. They are going to take me to Baltimore that PM. He is OK to me, very nice etc. Otherwise, he is running true to form. Dr. White and Mrs. B know more of him now.

Think I’ll stay in Baltimore all of next week and until after the final oral on Tuesday of week after next. It will be better for me and also less expensive. I am now rooming 1 block north of the office, just opposite the old Smithsonian Bldg. Don’t know their names. I pay $2 per night for three nights here.

The new Animal Parasitology by Hegner, Root and Augustine is out. It has C.E. in it and all other recent developments.

Dr. Howell was very cordial when I met him in Baltimore.

With all my love, Dear, I am

Your
Walter.

P.S. I have a new point in my pen. It cost $1.50.

July 14, 1927

Thurs. PM. 6:30

My Dear Sweetheart,

Your letter was a real good one. You always know what to say. It was next best to a talk with you, though I’d like mighty well to see you now. The renewal is OK until we hear from Mr. Diffy and should he not be able to get a $4000 lien I know that we can renew with Mr. Harper OK. We could increase our second lien but would have to give a 25% to them. This we do not care to do. I feel that Mr. Diffy is going to get the $4000. He fells that he can so I am not worrying about it.

July 13, 1927

Six of the dogs were infested with A. braziliense though there were only 18 in all of them. There were 77 caninum. It shows that they (braziliense) are fairly well distributed, but present in only small numbers. Will get some more animals tomorrow. The kittens are fine.

You don’t know how much I would like to see you. I just love you so that I want to be with you all of the time. Can’t help but be interested in a place close to the Lab so I can see you any time of the day. If we have a place near the Lab we can use the garage here which would mean a saving. When you come back, I will have a govt. Ford which I can use. This will give you your car at any time you want to use it. Will find out if our Baltimore freight is here. It is about time for it. Guess I’ll have to try all the freight depots as the routing is not given on the Bill of Lading. I paid the Baltimore Transfer Co. They prepaid the freight to the Southern R.R.

With a real sweet kiss and with all my love, your
Walter.

P.S. You left 1 month ago today.

July 1, 1927?

This letter ended up with the ones from later in July, and I believe it was actually written on or about July 1. I’m inserting it now and backdating the post so it will be in the correct order. Sorry for any confusion.

Friday 7:15 PM. The Lab.

My Dear Little Girl,

As usual I enjoyed your letter very much. Today I brought all of the things from the Apt. except a laundry bag, my shaving equipment and the bed clothing. I’ll sleep there until it is rented or until the 5th.

July 1, 1927?

I understand that Bish is returning by the way of Uvalde. Don’t know when he is expected to return here but probably within a day or two.

Had a letter from Dr. White today. He had heard nothing more of the C.E. work, but will find out after the 4th. He thinks we had better get things in shape to go down pretty soon. I am not taking him seriously.

Mrs. Brundrette went to Stephensville for a few days. Will return about Sunday.

Had a letter from Mr. Scott in answer to mine. Said that Cornelia was dead.

Have not had supper yet so I’ll post this & eat.

I love you Dear, and I am mighty anxious to see you again. It has been a long time.

Your
Walter.

February 22, 1927

I have decided not to transcribe the next few work letters, as they’re lengthy and already typed. Instead, I’ll post the scans and simply add a few comments. Click the image to get the full-size version.

February 22, 1927

It seems little has changed in research politics.

November 1, 1926

Letter of Authorization
No. 516
Washington, D.C.
November 1, 1926

Mr. W. E. Dove, Collaborator.

Under authority conferred upon me by paragraph 2 of the Fiscal Regulations of the Department, you are hereby authorized to incur expenses as follows, during the fiscal year 1927, in the performance of official duties, under the appropriation: “General expenses, Bureau of Entomology, 1927, Miscellaneous Insects” –

November 1, 1926

To make such trips from Baltimore, Md., to Washington, D.C., and return, as may be necessary, for the purpose of conferring with Dr. G. F. White, Insect Pathologist of this Bureau, with reference to investigations of insects affecting the health of animals in which you are both engaged.

To incur necessary traveling expenses.

You will be reimbursed for actual subsistence expenses, not to exceed $7.00 in any one day, while absent from official station and in a travel status.

L.O. Howard
Chief of Bureau

Your official station will be Baltimore, Md.

A second page indicates that the total year’s travel budget for this project is $50, which would be $643.12 in today’s money.

September 23, 1926

The correspondence between Walter and Ina gets more sporadic now, as they’re mostly together. The next few items will be correspondence from Walter’s work, providing a more direct look at what it was like to be a USDA scientist in the early 20th century.

Dr. G.A. White, September 23, 1926, Jacksonville Beach, FL.

When this photo was taken, that screened porch was the United States Department of Agriculture’s primary research facility for the entire state of Florida.

June 11, 1926

Friday 1PM. The Lab.

My Dear Little Girl,

Your real sweet letter came this morning as usual and you don’t know how much they mean to me. Mrs. Bucklin also phoned this morning to find out how the “Little Dove” was getting along. Says that she certainly misses you. She hasn’t worked lately. Was going to see a physician but said that she wasn’t seriously ill. Mrs. Pettit’s number is 4502 Columbia.

June 11, 1926

Dear, I knew that I was going to miss you and I intended to keep it to myself but it can’t be done. I hope that we will never be separated again. It helps to visit with Dr. Roark etc. but I am lost when it is meal time and also in the evenings when I should be with you.

I have one lesion on my arm which is quite distinct but it has the reddish appearance and is not yet elevated sufficiently. The hot weather helps. This is not a new one but one I had a month ago when we walked down to the Buckner Park. It has required a much longer period than usual, which I attribute to the cooler weather. I am greatly encouraged as it came from the mites.

8 PM-

Am at P.O. so will close.

I love you Dear with all my heart.

Your
Walter

Am enclosing a letter from Alvis.

June 10, 1926

June 10. Thurs Nite – The Lab.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I have just written to Mother Dove and I came very near addressing this letter to Roxie, Miss. That accounts for the erasure on the envelope. I certainly do not like the idea of being separated from my “Honey Bunch.” I haven’t told you how much I miss you, but the past week seems like ages. I didn’t know that a week could seem so long. I realize how much Mother Lewis missed you when we were married.

June 10, 1925

Dr. Roark and I drove to Owenwood and the Fair Park after supper, and then by the post office. Your letter came this AM so I did not expect one tonight, but he had one from Mrs. Roark. I have had lots of visits with him recently. He is somewhat disappointed that Bish did not have the work going. Dr. Roark has been here ten days and Bish has not yet gotten the materials. I told him that he should not blame Laake or Brundy as they would have had things going if it had been left to them.

This PM I printed pictures from 1 to 5 PM. Have been at this during the past three afternoons. Most of them were Mr. Parman’s & many of them were ones that I made down there last summer. The C.E. infection looks more encouraging since the hot weather began. I believe that my physical exercise helped some.*

Friday AM.

Good morning. I hope you slept well. I did. Am waiting for Dr. Roark & we will eat. He and Laake are golfing again this A.M.

I love you lots and lots & lots.

Your
Walter

* To see if his hypothesis about the cause of creeping eruption (larva migrans) was right, Walter tried to give himself a case of it. He inoculated his arm with a pure isolate of the nematode he thought was responsible. In upcoming letters he’ll be talking about the progress of this self-experiment.