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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 04/05/1914

    The Johns Hopkins Hospital

    Baltimore, Md.

    April 5, 1914

    Dear Mother and Father,

    Another wonderful week has passed, I have done quite a lot of operating, but a quiet is now about due. McClure is back on the job and I am shoved down a notch, temporarily at least. I got to do a big operation-intestinal obstruction-the other day, but she is now out of danger. It was a very remarkable case.

    I did another delicate operation by joining two nerves. One nerve had been destroyed years ago, so I took another nerve and hitched it up to the dead one. It will take several months for it to take effect. I did several other smaller operations all of which have done well. McClure made $1,500 in the 6 weeks he was away but I hardly think I would have accepted such a position and lose so much valuable time away from work. I think I would rather stint and put in some licks that will count than to waste time just for money. He is spoiled with luxury and shows it in all his work. He is the one I told you Dr. Halsted did not like and to whom they had hoped not to give the residency.

    Well, things are about as usual, the Professor is now in Europe and nothing will be known until he comes back or gets ready to leave again. I hope to get out of the operating room some now and get some experimental work done before the professor gets back. It is worth more to do that than assist in operations. I am trying to make everything count now. It may soon be that a grand place may open up for me as it begins to look as though Dr. Finney and Bloodgood and the other big surgeons will soon be frozen out entirely and only Heuer and myself may be left, if McClure does not stay, and I do not get in bad with the Professor or something unusual happens. But who can foresee.

    About cashing the coupons. I don't have any trouble, nor should you. It is only those with an income of $3,000 or over.

    Am glad you are in such good health. It won't be long now until you will be back. I think if I stay this year, it may be permanent. So you can start up right-housekeeping. When I begin to get a little salary you can be on easy street, which you are even now.

    Tomorrow I will be 28, just the age Papa was when he got married. You are ahead of me in that respect, quite a distance. I haven't even started yet.

    The weather is still chilly, the leaves haven't yet started to come out. It is still nice weather to work. I think I will take a week off in the country sometime in May in preparation for the Summer's work. I think this is all at present.

    Your loving son, Walter

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