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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 03/16/1912

    Baltimore, Md.

    March 16, 1912

    Dear Mother and Father,

    I am again slow answering your letter as usual. I keep putting it off and thinking I will have more time tomorrow and I am always caught after midnight without any time to spare.

    Well this has been a great week for me and a hard one for Dr. Cushing. My Epileptic boy has not had any more attacks and is going away tomorrow. Well that woman I was telling you about, who had so much money, heard of him and is going to give him a two months rest in the country and pay all his expenses, buy him a complete outfit of clothes etc. Cost her $75.

    Dr. Cushing gave me another big case, one of the hardest and biggest brain operations. It turned out to be the most wonderful case we have seen this year. The boy had nothing but an occasional attack of epilepsy. At operation about ¼ of his brain was a big cyst of water. The most remarkable picture we have seen yet. With all that damage he was only a little backward at school.

    The thing that pleases me most was the fact that there were three cases almost alike in the hospital at the same time. Dr. Cushing operated on two and gave me the third to do myself. It consisted in removing the skull from one side of the head and putting it back again, a long, tedious painstaking procedure. He didn't find anything in his 2 cases and I found this most remarkable condition in mine. But the best of it was both his cases did so badly that he had to go in and operate a second time on account of a blood clot formation but mine did splendidly and is still doing so. As you see the big men do not always do the best work. If I had done what he did it would have been sufficient excuse to have never given me anything more to do. But I was very fortunate. He may not give me so much new because they are talking some about the difference which does not look so good to him.

    Have a lot of wonderful cases. He goes to Europe June 1. I don't know yet what I will do. I think possibly I will get a chance to go to Boston, though he hasn't mentioned anything as yet. May have a good chance here.

    I may come over and see you if you don't come back. You had just as well stay then until I hear something definite.

    Well spring is beginning to appear. Kicked a football this afternoon for 2 hours and felt bully.

    Everything is proceeding nicely. Seem to please Dr. Cushing OK so far as I can tell. Did a most remarkable test on a baby with hydrocephalus-big head water. First time anything like it has ever been done. Substituted colored liquid for the normal fluid of the brain and determined its excretion all of which harmonized with my previous views very closely and against Dr. Cushing's. The experiment was remarkably good and the baby not injured at all.

    That wealthy woman is very anxious to have me visit her during the summer. Another patient also gave me very hearty invitation, wants me to go to St. Louis and practice and be in Washington University. Says he can get me a good job if I want it.

    Well I guess this is enough wind jammer. Glad you are feeling so well and having such a good time. Is Mrs. Battersby coming over. I have a lot of papers to send you. Lots of bad politics. Will try and write sooner next time. With much love and best regards to all. I am

    Your loving son, Walter

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