Postcard
From
Capt R.A. Roberts – O-231739
H.Q. Western Task Force
A.P.O. No. 758, New York, N.Y.
Somewhere in Africa
December, 1942.
Best wishes to you and family for a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Am well and busy.
January 7, 1943
Central Laboratory 505
APO 505
c/o Postmaster
New York, N.Y.
Personal Please
Dear Dr. Dove:
I suppose you have been advised by this time of my safe arrival at destination. We had an uneventful trip and everything is going along as well as can be expected under the circumstances. Like every ponderous machine it moves slowly but with ever increasing momentum. Living conditions are not at all bad and except for missing Deniza and all my friends I am quite contented with my lot.
January 1, 1943
Because of certain restrictions, it is almost impossible to give much in the way of happenings. I am greatly impressed with the importance of the eventual problems with which [redacted] you and I and especially the boys at Orlando are concerned. We cannot do too much too soon. Many problems present themselves and it is difficult to keep on the straight course of dealing entirely with the primary one; nevertheless some of them cannot be ignored and it is often necessary to take on additional responsibilities and give help wherever possible. In this connection I shall appreciate your sending me my copy of “Human Parasitology” by Blacklock, and the copy of “Parasitology” by Hegner, Root, and Augustine. I think you will find them amongst the books I left in the office. If you could procure for me a copy of the recent edition of “Medical Entomology” by Herms I should like to have that too. Deniza will reimburse you for whatever it costs. Perhaps you could expedite delivery to me by asking Col. Stone to send them with other official mail. There is, upon my suggestion, an interest in Freon as carrier and dispenser of bactericides for preventing air-borne infections. You might ask Col. Stone if it would be possible for his office to send me two 25 lb. cylinders of the material direct together with 5 empty 5-lb. dispensers and full instructions as to equipment for filling the small cylinders from the large ones. This equipment is also desired in connection with other work which has been assigned me. There is no use of my ordering it through channels as it does not appear on regular supply tables available here and I shall have to write elaborate specifications. Another problem to which I must give attention is the prevention of scabies. If it is possible and not too inconvenient I would appreciate your discussing this with Dr. Haller and Col. Stone and sending me at least gallon samples of any promising liquid acaricides especially emulsions or solutions of the less irritating derris or cube derivatives. The necessity for liquids is that of rapid application as a spray and the treatment of a considerable number of persons in a short time. As soon as you develop any promising lousicidal powder I should like to have samples to determine their efficacy in preventing sarcoptes infestation. Should opportunity afford research work there on scabies prevention and rapid treatment would be well worth while. One last request, could you discuss with Dr. Calvery of Food & Drug what his organization has found out about commercial wetting agents which are non-toxic to man and if he knows of any forward samples to me through Col. Stone. I know you must be extremely busy at this time and I trust the above requests will not be of too much trouble to you. How is everything going at the office? Give my best wishes to everyone in the Division and all my friends in the Bureau. How is Ina and the boys, Claudelle and B.M.? Please remember me to them. I think the above address will be rather permanent for me so if you can find a spare moment to write I shall be delighted to hear from you.
Sincerely
Emory C. Cushing, Maj. 5th C.[?].
Notes on the back of the envelope in Walter’s handwriting:
sesame
cotton seed
corn
Gesarol
Gesarol is the same as Neocid – both are Geigy trade names for a novel compound Walter and his colleagues are testing as a possible lousicide.
Postmarked San Antonio.
Monday P.M.
Your Daddy improved a great deal during the past few days and went in car with me about town several times. Color is better but he is weak. Met Bruce here and he will continue to Wash. after stopping Dallas. Leaving for Kerrville this P.M. & leaving San Antonio Tues. for Gulfport. Will be Orlando Saturday.
With love
Walter.
December 14, 1942
Thurs. Night 12/10.
Leaving here 11:40 PM and arriving San Antonio about 8 tomorrow morning. Will take the first bus or train to Uvalde. Expect to leave there Sunday PM and to meet Bruce at San Antonio Monday regarding some tests on cattle grubs in Florida. Think he will be glad to work there. Expect to see Simmons if he can meet me Gulfport.
With love
Walter.
December 10, 1942
Dallas – Wed. night
Will be here another day and plan return here after going to Uvalde. Hot interest in grubs and demands for information on treatments cause us to step up this work. Wire from Annand today and I am getting about 10 men on testing right now. Melvin was here and returned to Menard tonight. Schwartz left Monday PM.
With love
Walter.
December 9, 1942
Postmarked Dallas.
Monday P.M.
All day sessions and then a dinner at the Adolphus’ with several of the men and some sulphur men tonight. Schwartz and Kemper left this PM. I have plenty to do here yet and may not get away Tues. night. May be necessary to go to Stillwater Oklahoma, but will pass it up if I can. Cool here but not cold.
With love
Walter.
December 8, 1942
Plain postcard postmarked Dallas.
Sunday Night.
We had a conference with Dr. Laake & others this PM, ate dinner with Dr. L at a restaurant and then went out to his new home where we visited with Mrs. L. It is raining here and is cold but I took an aspirin. Zero weather in Chicago and so far am free of a cold.
With love,
Daddy
December 7, 1942
Plain postcard postmarked Chicago.
Monday AM.
We had an uneventful trip and arrived on time this morning. It is cold & there is some snow on the ground, about 1″ or more.
Will register this AM for the meetings & I think the attendance will not be large.
No livestock show this year which usually brings in a large crowd.
With love
Walter.
November 30, 1942
1st General Medical Laboratory
APO 519
c/o Postmaster New York City
Sept. 28, 1942
Dear Dr. Dove:
I was very glad to get your letter of Sept. 10 and the notes from the members of the office staff. How much I enjoyed hearing from them and it really made it seem as though I were back there talking to them in person. Of course, everyone wants to get back to the States as soon as possible but I think they want to get this job done first. I judged from Harry’s note that you folks didn’t know I was in England. Haven’t been able to see any of my old friends yet that I knew when I was here before although I see Buxton quite often whenever I go up to his city. Deniza tells me that some of the other men in the Division are getting itching feet to get in the service but you tell them for me that the work they are doing is too important and that they can perform a greater service for their country by staying in their present jobs for awhile longer anyway. There is still much research needed to meet military requirements in their line of work and I know they are the boys who can do it and that in America is the best place to get it done.
September 28, 1942
Shortly after your letter came, I received the box containing the small jars and two larger jars. Presumably, these samples are for tests with scabies and I shall get to test them at the same time I test the louse powder for scabies. However, it is indiciated that a liquid acaricide would be better than a salve, since in most instances the entire body has to be treated. On the other hand, if the louse powder works it will be the best treatment.
The British are using their AL63 but I am sure MYL will prove to be much better.
I have been preaching M.B. fumigation of clothing for delousing but the biggest question is whether it will kill typhus rickettsiae and there is only one answer to that and that is to try it on infected lice and their feces. It may be that I can arrange for some tests in the Middle East. The QM over here seems not to have heard of M.B. fumigation for delousing and I am wondering if the Q.M. General’s office over there has been fully advised on the subject. How is Latta getting along with further experiments?
We have requisitioned a rather large supply of MYL as well as M.B. and the necessary equipment as I should like to have the latest “dope” on the latter.
Was glad to learn that the Committee had accepted 612. It seems to be badly needed everywhere from the reports I hear.
Could you give some information yet on how well the ovicide in MYL works and how long the powder gives protection.
I am glad that Roy and Knipling got their well-deserved promotions, and I hope Miss Lynch gets hers soon too. Perhaps the additional money for the larvicide work will justify making another application. How is Bruce and has he gotten in the Army yet? Did Major King go overseas?
Sincerely yours,
Emory.
P.S. My cable address is AMIHOP if you should care to reach me in a hurry sometime.
ECC.
1st General Medical Laboratory
APO 519
c/o Postamster
New York, New York
Sept. 22, 1942
Dear Dr. Dove:
I do not recall whether I mentioned in my last letter the desirability of having some work done on methods of delousing the body of a person which is more rapid than the usual slow and uncertain process of shaving and bathing. My particular concern is lousy patients suffering from some disease or injury requiring immediate medication or surgery and which could not be handled in the customary way. Then too, one cannot be certain that bathing and shaving will get all the lice and nits on the body. If we had a solution which was both lousicidal and ovicidal which could be sprayed over the body it would eliminate a lot of work and time in delousing a helpless patient by bathing. Lethane in a water mixture might be suitable for this purpose and I am thinking too of a water emulsion of benzyl benzoate. This last seems to be a good treatment for scabies and is highly recommended by the British. It is applied all over the body except the head without harmful effects. The proportion of the mixture is 25% benzyl benzoate, 5% wetting agent, and 70% water. Would you please ask the boys in Fla. to run some preliminary tests with this material on research subjects using live lice and nits on the skin. If this cannot be done immediately perhaps they could try light sprayings of lice and eggs on pieces of cloth.
September 22, 1942
Nothing has come through from Stone’s office yet regarding new developments by the boys in the Southeast but the British seem to be getting some of that information from OSRD. Deniza tells me that you are sending the things I requested and I surely appreciate your help in this matter. Did you get the money for the mosquito larvicide investigations? Who is working on it? I understand that the shipbuilding project at N.O. was abandoned – is that correct? Would like to know if Stone’s office is still enthusiastic about M.B. fumigation and if it is now standard recommendation. No instructions have been received by people concerned here according to my knowledge.
Give my best regards to everyone there and in the field. Everything OK with me.
Sincerely,
Emory C. Cushing