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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 01/04/1914

    The Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Md.

    January 4, 1914

    Dear Mother and Father,

    Well I guess you are happy now with all the gush about your boy. Guess you think he's a wonder but don't deceive yourself into believing it. It is just spectacular stuff that the newspapers are looking for. Anything about the brain appeals to them. Practically all the papers in the country had an account of it. Possibly even the Sedalia papers. I may send them one to let them know. That would please you very much wouldn't it.

    Dr. Halsted thinks it is wonderful. He asked me what Cushing said and I told him. He smiled. He said but you didn't theorize did you? You just stated facts. I said yes. Cushing said it was impossible to believe in Dr. Dandy's theories. Well they are talking about it around here yet. I certainly got newspaper notoriety.

    Today I got the first response saying they have a patient who had hydrocephalus and wondered if I could cure it. I suppose they will come in soon more rapidly. Dr. Welch, whom you know so much about, said it was the finest piece of work ever done here. He was very enthusiastic about it. He told several men this. Dr. Halsted has been telling everybody also. So I am getting quite a reputation though not much salary. I think everything should smooth out nicely now, though again I say you can't tell. Dr. McClure, the man above me, was at Dr. Finney's for dinner and told Finney about Cushing and myself. Finney laughed. He knew about it and said it was like Cushing.

    Dr. Thomas is very much tickled. He was mainly responsible for helping me stay on with Dr. Halsted. Dr. Halsted asks me every day about the work when it is going to be ready for him to send off. He wants it published in German and English simultaneously, which will be very nice.

    It seems like I have been doing a lot of publishing this year. I have another article coming out in the Annals of Surgery April 1st. When I spoke I did not use notes of any kind, just spieled it off. Am frequently reminded of "My Oratory." It is much better than reading it off. I think I will feel more at home now after these experiences.

    I think I will join the American Medical Association and read the paper at the annual session. It costs $15 to join and railroad fare to the place etc. but I think it well pays. Certainly the little $6 was nothing compared with what I got out of it. It makes one feel good to have made good.

    Left in the lurch by Dr. Cushing and now to have pulled out by my own resources I feel very grateful to Dr. Halsted and Dr. Thomas. Dr. Halsted said he wanted to help me do those experiments. He thinks they are great. Even Dr. Smith, who tried to run me out of the hospital, is now reconciled and rejoiced with Dr. Thomas when told about my victory over Cushing. I think he feels satisfied now.

    I have very high ambitions now, many irons in the fire and the allowed 24 hours are entirely too short to serve the present purposes. I am no longer bothering about the Dutchman. My hope lies in forgetting trivialities and sawing wood, in other words tending to my own business. If Heuer goes to Germany I think I will get all the brain surgery to do and then maybe I can keep it.

    Am glad to know you are so well. It won't be long till you will be sailing back again. I will have to find some temporary accommodations. I take good care of myself and get $1 meals on the strength of my bank account and my stocks which are now on the rise.

    Ought to send you my picture in a few days. Will let you send it to "your girl."

    Have had a nice vacation, with much work which is by far the best. Was only in Philadelphia 12 hours. Saw Dr. Jackson. He wants me to come to Minneapolis. He saw the Philadelphia papers account of the comedy and thought it great.

    Your loving son, Walter

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