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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 08/24/1914

    The Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Md.

    August 24, 1914

    Dear Mother and Father,

    Just received two letters together. I don't know why you shouldn't have received mine. I probably was a day or two overdue on one when I thought the mails would not go. I am glad you are so comfortable and are suffering no ill consequence of the war. I think it would be better to get off pretty soon because you know Germany may use her Zeppelins and drop explosives on London. But as far as invading England is concerned, that seems a pretty far fetched apprehension. England's expense for her navy has been well spent with pretty keen foresight. She would be pretty badly off without it now.

    Well I went down to cable you some money but they said I would lose $25 by exchange if I sent you $300 so I thought I would wait and see. They said things were practically normal and were sure the banks would give you what you want. Let me know what you think if you need it. Don't hesitate to tell me because I have lots of money and it isn't doing me any good.

    I made $250 last week as slick as a whistle. You will recall the case by the clippings. The man (Basshor) shot himself, evidently with suicide intent, and I was called into consultation. I had to make the trip by boat and rail to Cambridge, Maryland and took about 6 hours to get there. I left here on an urgent call at 6:30 A.M., took a taxicab to the station. Had to make train connections and as our train was late, they wired to have the train held until I could get it. This was done through the superintendent. I got there and was whisked in a big machine 8 miles in the country to Senator Raynor's home which had been sold to these people. It is a beautiful big place on the bay. They were waiting anxiously for me. I looked him over and in about 10 minutes told them my opinion. She asked me my bill and I said $250. She said, "Gee that is a heap" and wrote me out a check. He died 2 or 3 days later. It was in the country and I think he strangled to death as he had no good reason to die with competent doctors to watch him. If he had been here, I am sure he could have been saved.

    He was a worthless fellow who lived on the $30,000 a year she got from Emerson, the Bromo-Seltzer man. He was a…parasite. She seemed greatly upset about him, but I don't know whether she really cared. That was my first medical fee and I think it was pretty good.

    Next I was taken to the Cambridge hospital and asked to operate on a case of exophalmic [?] goiter-thyroid gland in the neck. They had never had a case in the hospital before and I had never done one before. I did it for them in fine style. I never saw a case go nicer. They seemed very much impressed. Next I was taken for dinner to Dr. Goldsborough's home and had the best dinner I have had since the "little lemon" was in charge. We rode out again to the injured man in Governor Goldsborough's big Lozier machine. Then I came home. It was a wonderful trip and quite lucrative too.

    I have almost made expenses this year now and can go to Chicago. It made me want to go when I can make enough money to live on instead of being a slave. The superintendent of the hospital sent for me to explain why I had gone to see this case without permission from the hospital. He was as small as a man could be but he didn't bother my mental equilibrium any. I didn't let on that I had collected any money though he undoubtedly suspects it and so does everybody else. They are all poking fun at me, wanting to know the brand of machine I am going to buy, etc. I won't tell anyone what I made as it is none of their business.

    I have had two wonderful cases. One a Gasserian ganglion for terrible tic douloureux, one of the most difficult operations in brain surgery. It went beautifully though a very difficult case. It is one of those cases where you go into the very center of the head. Another case was a spinal cord tumor. It was one of the rarest of tumors. Dr. Thomas is very much interested in it but I am afraid we can't help the poor fellow. I exposed the tumor at operation but it was such a terrible looking thing that I didn't see how anything could be done to help him but I think I will try it anyhow. He is helpless and begs for something to be done.

    I have another big case for tomorrow. The man out of whom I took a brain tumor as big as your fist is walking around and doing fine. His mentality is unimpaired. I have had wonderful luck so far with all cases and hope it will keep up. The radium did not help that poor fellow in whom I found a big tumor and had tried radium as a last resort.

    I am busy writing papers now. That is what is going to help me most of anything. Very fortunately the German article came out all right just before the war. I am very much pleased. Heuer said it was a very good looking article. I think that will anticipate Cushing's article, which I think has not yet appeared. I sent him my picture.

    I was looking over the old pictures the other day of the group after I graduated. I think it is very good. I am particularly proud of the one of Papa when he was 16 years old. I wonder if you can get any more of your pictures or of Mama when she was young and all the beaus chasing her.

    I sent another doctor a bill for $10 and may get $10 for another but I don't see any more in view. I feel quite rich now especially since I own some railroad stock too.

    Japan is a dirty little dog. England has lost a lot of sympathy here for requesting Japan to get mixed up in the war. It's like jumping on a man who is down. But they will probably know it long before Germany is down. America ought to reap much benefit from the war.

    It is nice to think the American people are sensible enough to rule themselves and not permit broken down aristocratic rulers to force the flower of youth before the mouths of cannons while they entertain the flights of imagination foolishly interpreted as ambition. If sensible men had ruled Germany, Russia, and Austria such a war would have been out of the question. I think you had better leave for America as soon as you can get a fairly good boat. Even an English boat might not be bad now.

    Your loving son, Walter

    P.S. Do you want some money!!

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