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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 03/22/1914

    The Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Md.

    March 22, 1914

    Dear Mother and Father,

    I am a day late but think the letter will still catch the Lusitania.

    Well this has been a good week for me. I have been in complete charge and have done quite a lot of work. Dr. Heuer's father died. He went home and that left me resident, since Dr. McClure was also away. I had my first opportunity of assisting Dr. Halsted and everything went almost as smoothly as when Dr. Heuer was here which is doing exceedingly well. He is tremendously hard to please and everybody expected to see fire fly but it didn't. He has operated more in the past week than ever before and so far everything has moved smoothly. He seems to like me very well. He told me to go ahead and do all the operations in the house which I have been doing. So far all have gone nicely.

    I took out a pineal on a dog, which has never been done before. He was greatly pleased. When I started to help him he said, this is very coarse work compared to taking out pineals, isn't it. He has been far nicer to me than to anybody else and everybody is remarking about it. It is a very good sign that he likes me. I am sure I believe I am more satisfied than I used to be. I turned my article over to him. He was greatly pleased with it but didn't have time to read it much as he is busy writing an article of his own and sails for Germany next week. He comes back again in 3 weeks and leaves again in June for the summer.

    Even Heuer told me that the Professor liked me very much and talked quite a lot about me. He rarely ever says such a thing. Of course he may change his mind. He used to think a lot of McClure but he is quite sour on him now. He told Dr. Cushing I was his most valuable man, possibly excepting Heuer so he evidently doesn't think so much of McClure.

    I believe I will surely get to do all the brain work now at least until Heuer comes back.

    The weather is still cold. It snowed twice this week but is beginning to get warmer. Baseball will soon be here. Did you see the game in London. Wish I could tell you definitely when to come.

    I helped Dr. Finney twice this week and will help him again tomorrow or next day. You had better have another round of England and Ireland before you come back. Spend a month at least. I am wearing my new suit most of the time. The others are about gone. The dress suit fits fine. I rather like to wear it.

    Well I think this is all at present. I hope you are in the best of health and happiness despite a single and one window room.

    Your loving son, Walter

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