Tag Archives: larva migrans

November 8, 1925

Jax Beach, Sun PM. Nov 8th

My Dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday and today were regular days with comfortable temperatures and folks were in the surf. It seemed more like summer. I went to Jax yesterday afternoon. Dr. KS had written that a veterinarian had telephoned him of a peculiar skin affection on a dog, and that he thought it of interest to us. The lesions were not characteristic of C.E. but it is possible that the trouble was of a nematode origin. The dog was too valuable to obtain it for experimental purposes, so I gave him the C.E. treatment to be tried. When I have isolated and cultured the C.E. nemas I’ll try them on dogs. The material I am working with has not produced C.E. but it is nearer than anything we have worked on yet. I get so interested in it that I forget most everything else. I haven’t written an official letter for a long time, but I’ll have to answer some of them soon.

When I was in town yesterday I drove out toward the acreage to see what the new developments look like. They are encouraging and with a development like “Biltmore” beginning in that part of town I have hopes that ours will be valuable stuff. I’ll be glad when you see them. I don’t know what you would think of building out there, but I am of the opinion that a nice home out there on one of the tracts would be mighty fine. It looks as though we might get enough out of the Fulford lot to go a long way toward building and furnishing a new home.

Monday A.M.

I stopped here last night and now I want to get this in the P.O. before the mail leaves.

With worlds of love, Dear, and a [ink smear on page] kiss.

Your
Walter.

November 6, 1925

Jax Beach, Friday Night Nov 6th.

My Dear Sweetheart,

You have been mighty good to me to write so regularly when I have not done so. I certainly have been busy, Dear, and I want you to know that I thought of you just the same and that I love you as much as ever. I have been getting some new material which was more interesting and promising than anything we have worked with it. I can’t make any definite statement yet, and I’ll be sure of myself before I do so. Should I be able to produce the disease now I could not report it in the near future, and would not expect to do so until I was so sure of my stuff that there would be no possible chance for an error. Dr. K.S. received the proof of our article a few days ago (the one which Dr. White nursed so long). He dropped me a line that there were only a few corrections (typographical) and that he corrected those and returned it. I am rather glad that he did this, for if I had seen the proof Dr. White would have wanted to go over it and he would have kept it a long time again. As it is, it will probably come out in next month’s issue. Dr. K.S. says that this is all that he cares to publish as the work is now where he cannot help very much. I intend to see that I get my own out under my own name this time. I am glad to have published some with him as he has a prestige among medical men.

November 6, 1925

November 6, 1925

I am enclosing a letter re: Fulford lots which may be interesting. When I looked at our lot, the one next to it had a real estate sign so I asked what they were holding it for. The enclosed letter says that it has been sold. Judging from the prices they are asking for the others, which are several blocks away from ours I believe that the list price $3150 which the Fulford people place on ours is not an inflated price but about what it would bring on the market. The acreage at Jax looks better than it did at the time we bought. One subdivision is being developed a little beyond our tracts, but it isn’t a high class one. Nearer to Jax than ours a new division is now open by a good company who are placing restrictions on the buildings. This looks good. When they have finished this, our tracts ought to be pretty good acreage. They are higher than any development in the vicinity of Jax.

I had not considered it necessary to have a best man who was not married. I’ll have to look into this matter. I don’t believe my brother would do it. He is working on some road contracts and only a death would get him away from them. I’ll make up that list for you, too, and will send it before long.

With a sweet goodnight, I am,

Always,
Your
Walter.

November 1, 1925

Jax Beach, Sunday Nite.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It has been a bit cold yesterday and today. It started a few days ago, then rained, and now we have some wind and damp weather. Have had on winter suit and sweater, for I do some work on the porch which is screened. When I have dissections to make or vessels to sterilize, I go out there.

November 1, 1925

November 1, 1925

The paper says that there are between three thousand and thirty-five hundred people living at the beach this winter. Before last winter there were usually about three hundred. At night I note that most of the houses are lighted. The stands on the board walk are closed with the exception of about two, but there are three restaurants open. The two meat markets, bakery, drug store, and three or four grocery stores are all open. When the weather is nice the crowds still come down on Sat and Sun. Today it is too cold for bathing, but there are a bunch of cars on the beach and I note that the life saving crew are out there in bathing suits and sweaters. There are a couple of girls in the crew and they are said to be good.

I have worked most all day but not steady. I had some stuff in the traps this morning which needed attention so I brought it in and have taken care of the material. It takes quite a while to dissect, fix, preserve and stain the stuff. It is a long tedious job, but I usually have several lots going at one time. At the same time I have cultures of living material which need attention. These are kept in an improvised incubator, consisting of a wood box heated with an electric light bulb.

Mrs. McDonald is living here yet. The people who looked at her cottage, offered the $3500 which she asked for the place but wanted to pay $1000 down. She would have taken this, but the prospect wanted immediate possession or $30 per month rent. If she had wanted possession in the spring Mrs. Mc would have sold it. Instead she asked one-half cash. The prospect did not return. I guess the place is not sold yet. Mrs. Mc hesitates in selling it for her husband does not have a place for her at West Palm Beach. It is practically impossible to get living quarters down there and stay within his income which is $10 to $11 per day for 8 hrs work. He wrote that he would probably come here for a few days Christmas. He may find a place for her before that time, in which event she will go down. She expects to go to work in Jax or may be St. Augustine before very long. She is very ambitious and can’t find enough to keep her busy. Since she has been at home, I have been eating here. It is much better than restaurant cooking and I don’t lose but a few minutes at meal time. She is a good cook, and unusually neat in keeping house.

I’ll be mighty glad, Dear, when we are in a place of our own and located so that we can fix things to suit ourselves. I have been wondering about how I could show you about when we are here together. If Mrs. Mc goes she will probably take her car with her. I want you to know the layout of Jax and vicinity before we pick what we want. Of course we can’t get definitely located in our own place until we return after June 1st, but we might find what we want before that time and have it ready. We may have to build a place as the question of getting living quarters is getting rather serious. Jax is getting in on the boom in great shape and it looks as though most every place will be filled.

I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I want you. I hope that I can take care of you to the extent that you will not regret your choice.

With a sweet goodnight

Your,
Walter.

October 29, 1925 (Walter)

I don’t know whether this is Wed or Thurs Nite.
Anyway it’s dark.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I have been so interested in my work that the past two days have gone by so quickly that I didn’t realize it. I did not intend to let yesterday get by without writing to you but it was so late Dear, that I went right to sleep. Maybe you think that I am a poor sweetheart, but I have been so interested in my work. You are the only one I have written to for quite a while. I should write several letters but it seems a loss of time to write to anyone except you. Last winter I did the same thing and my mother wrote to Mr. Bishopp to find out where I was. When you are with me Dear I’ll have to wish some of my letter writing onto you. There won’t be much of it, because I am getting to the point where I have very few to write.

October 29, 1925 (Walter)

October 29, 1925 (Walter)

I am glad that you are over your blues, Dear, and I hope you realize that it was just a play on your imagination. It is very difficult to get mail or to send letters from southern Florida. I just received yours of the 19th, which makes about 10 or 11 days.

I am doing quite a little staining and microscopic work just now and it takes an awful lot of time to get anything accomplished. The material is so small that it is quite different from what any of our men are doing. I have to try methods on fresh material to get a technique as it is just a little different. Dr. White has written about how he is working on the other stuff, but it doesn’t help me any. I haven’t told him anything about what I am working on here, for I wouldn’t gain anything to do it.

I love you Dear and I wish I could be near enough to tell you all about it. With a sweet goodnight.

Always your
Walter.

October 11, 1925

Sunday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It was late before I realized it last night, and the result is that I waited until this morning to write to my little girl. I have just had breakfast and I feel better.

For the past 24 hours or more it has been pretty cold here. The coast storm from the New England states struck here early yesterday morning, but it was more of a cold wave than a storm.

October 11, 1925

October 11, 1925

At 4 o’clock in the morning I woke up cold and while pulling down the windows, closing the doors, and getting some blankets, I noticed that most of the houses in the neighborhood were also lighted. It was cold all day yesterday, too cold to work on the porch and use a microscope. I moved inside and most of the day I was busy getting material together for the trip and also some ready for shipment to Washington. You see I had a lot of extra stuff here on account of Dr. White, so I am returning a shipment of books, one microscope and some other things. He is still working on the nematode material and is spending most of his time at Johns Hopkins with them. The fact that it is a new one and occurs where CE does, makes it very interesting to him. But it isn’t the one we are looking for, and my interest wanes when I convince myself of that much.

It is possible that I am not working on the right one either, but I know that I am much closer than we were this summer.

I realize, Dear, that it will be necessary to give you some time for arrangements of the wedding. We will not present a report at the Southern Med Meeting at Dallas, and as I should be in Jax during the state fair, it would be well to figure that we should have it after the fair. It runs one week and during the middle of November. The latter part of November or anytime in December would be OK so far as I can tell. Where would you like to spend Christmas? Would you like to be at your home, with my folks or in Dallas?

Must get busy now, Sweetheart, for I have lots to do. I plan on leaving here Tuesday morning for my trip down the state.

With all my love, Dear, I am

Your own
Walter.

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

Tuesday A.M. Oct 6th.

My Dear Sweetheart,

This morning I received two letters from you and also last night another one came. It made me feel that I had been mean for I did not write to you yesterday. Went to Jax early in the morning and was up there all day. It was getting late when I came back. This A.M. I had a note from Dr. KS that the County Med Society met tonight and that he was on the program. I am going up this afternoon and attend the meeting with him. Will then spend the night at his home with them and will return tomorrow A.M. Dear, I have a lot of work to do and when the letters are short or when I miss a day I hope you will know that I love you just the same. Since I started this I phoned Dr. K.S. that I have no new dope to give out at this time and that I’d like to skip this meeting. He will show the slides used at New Orleans last fall and also at Atlantic City this Spring. His talk will be what was given at those meetings. I am sure that he will mention my work in a creditable manner, as he always gives me a lot of credit and some that I do not deserve.

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

I am trying to get away for the southern part of the state this week. It takes a lot to get my work in shape as I cannot leave it with anyone. My landlady here is going to work in Jax and I may be able to rent her auto for the trip. It would be fine if I could, and I am in hopes that I can get it. Can accomplish more if I drive, and I want to study conditions outside as much as possible. Your letters addressed here will be forwarded to me. When you write Sunday, it might be well to address them to Caxambas, Fla, General Delivery, and to mark the envelope Hold. I’ll be at Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Fulford, Miami too, but I won’t spend so much time at those places and will not have any mail sent to them.

It was sweet of Thelma Lee to write to me. I’ll write to her before long. I am pretty busy and I wish you would tell her.

You are just as sweet as you can be Dear and I love you with all my heart.

Your
Walter.

September 29, 1925 (Walter)

Tuesday Night 9/29

My Dear Sweetheart,

Last night I had to go down town so I mailed your letter at that time. I am going to post this one early too. Am writing it before I go to supper. I do not know whether they reach you any quicker this way or not.

It is raining slowly now and it has been since about 3 o’clock. It is now about 6. I have had plenty to do today and I think I made pretty good headway.

September 29, 1925 (Walter)

September 29, 1925 (Walter)

Yesterday, I shipped Dr. White some of the experimental animals. Before he left he wanted them, and after he went back he wrote that it would be just as well to ship them in about six weeks. They are infected with the parasite we were working with when he was here, and as I am on an entirely different lead I am anxious to let him have them. So I shipped them yesterday. I still have a bunch, but it makes quite a difference whether one is working with six or twelve at one time. I expect to use most of mine in the near future so that I can give all my time to the new lead. I can’t help but believe that I am on the right track, but it takes a lot of work to prove it. If this is the right track it is where I slip one over on Dr. White, and I don’t intend to tell him about it until it is worked up with proof. He was so “dog gone” domineering when we first started at the beach, that I intend to leave him out as much as possible from now until we finish. If my new lead is the one, then he will only get a mention in the paper. If the other had been it, he of course would have been a joint author. He wants to make a joint report at Dallas on the work we have done and wants me to write it up. He has his nerve all right. I am going to write him that in as much as our work this summer has been negative as far as we have worked that I do not believe we have data that should be published at this time. I am going to suggest that he can publish on the parasite we worked with in some Journal of Parasitology if he cares to do so. He likes the idea of having some one else do the work and then put his name on the paper as a co-author. He feels that he has an advantage in that every paper presented which deals with disease has to be referred to him for an opinion. Last fall, it was not submitted through channels and I can get by with it again. If I have the right thing, that is what I intend to do this time. I hope that I can give a positive report at Dallas. I’ll present it and then send him a manuscript copy afterwards. He can’t possibly hold it up then until he follows up the work or for any other excuse. If it is positive, I only need to have the diagnosis confirmed, and that is easy.

I guess this is about enough of my “crabbing” as you may call it, but I just wanted you to know what was on my mind.

I love you, Dear, and I want to tell you everything. It is time to eat and I am hungry so I’ll go while it is not raining.

With a sweet goodnight, and with all my love,

Your,
Walter.

September 26, 1925 (Walter)

Saturday Night 9/26.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Had a good shower of rain this noon and by the time I had finished eating it was all over and the sky was clear. The soil was so dry that it soaked in PDQ. Incidentally, they do not have any mud here after it rains. There is quite a bit of sand. About an hour ago it rained another shower. We are glad to have them. The wind is blowing from the Northeast, and I guess this is what the old timers call a Northeasterner. It always stays for 3, 6 or 9 days. Coming on Sat & Sun will keep the crowds away as these are the busy days for the Board Walk business places.

September 26, 1925 (Walter)

September 26, 1925 (Walter)

I am writing before dinner tonight as it is yet sprinkling. Hope to have a letter down there from you when I go to eat.

Tomorrow is Sunday but I have some work to do. It keeps me on the go just now. It’s because I am so interested in my problem and I’m anxious to get the missing links in C.E.

I love you, Dear, and I wish that I could hug you real hard, right now.

Always your,
Walter.

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach 9/22
Tuesday Nite.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Two real good letters from you today and an enclosure of Claudelle’s. I enjoyed hers too. I wonder how she happened to say “Mother” during the past few weeks. Is it because I say Mother Lewis and she wants to tease? I am sure that Mother Lewis does not care or she would have objected before now.

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

I went to Jax for a little while today. There is so much to be worked that it will keep me pretty busy. However, I am going to stay with it until I hear from Mr. B as to how long I am to be in Fla. I’d like to know before I go down the state. Had a letter from him yesterday and he did not mention the Dallas work. Evidently he had not heard from Dr. Hunter. He seemed to be pleased with Dr. Riley’s (University of Minnesota) letter of congratulations on the findings of last season, for he said “It is pleasing to note that he agrees with me and many others in considering the work you have done in Florida of a very distinct value.” Bish does not pin on any bouquets. Dr. Hunter’s comment was that it was “a good constructive piece of work.” Dr. Cort of Johns Hopkins said that it was the greatest contribution in human helminthology that had been made for a long time. He told Dr. White this. But all of this has not yet increased my check any, though Dr. White told me that he knew that Bish had made the recommendation. Sometimes they are slow in going through and are apt to be dated back when they are received. You and I can use the increase very nicely and here’s hoping that it is effective pretty soon. I have not asked for a raise, but if I don’t hear something I may remind Bish of it. He has always been very fine to me and I am sure that he will do what he can. Anyway, we are not going to starve or go hungry.

There are some good prospects of our acreage increasing in value. The remaining tracts, which are only a few, are selling at $100 per acre now. The same company are buying beyond our tracts and they are going to ask $200 for them when the “snow birds” come down. At that rate, ours should see $300 by Spring. This would make a nice little profit, considering the small amount invested. We can use the money, and when any dollars are rolling our way I hope we can stop them.

I love you, Dear, more than I can tell you. With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

September 18, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach, 9/18-25
Friday Morning.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I did not write last night but am doing so the first thing this morning. Have just had breakfast and now I am on the porch of the cottage. Today, I want to get everything in shape so that I can leave it over Sat & Sun. Will go to Jax on the early train tomorrow AM & will finish some work up there so that Dr. K.S. and I can leave at noon on our fishing trip. I always have a good time with him.

September 18, 1925 (Walter)

September 18, 1925 (Walter)

We are going to the same point near Orange Springs, but will go up the river this time & have a Negro to run the boat as we drift back. The last two times we were down there we drifted down the river & then had a gasoline boat pull us back. I do not know whether anyone else will go with us or not, I hope not, for two men casting from one boat is about as many as can fish conveniently. At that the Negro will probably dodge the Dowdgiacs* some.

The material I am working with since Dr. White left looks very encouraging. I don’t intend to tell him about this until I get somewhere with it. He has plenty of the other to keep him busy and if he knew of this it might get him away from the other. The other should be worked up anyway and he can go to it.

Will write you again tonight, Dear, and will post it in Jax tomorrow A.M.

I love you, and love you and love you,

Your,
Walter.

*Probably a phonetic spelling of “Dowagiac.” The Heddon lure company was originally headquartered in Dowagiac, MI, and their earliest products were branded “Dowagiacs.”