Yellow Fever Commission (U.S.)

In this letter from Walter Reed to James Carroll, Reed acknowledges the receipt of the Berkefeld filter and valve attachments that Carroll sent to him. Reed is thankful that Carroll's patient is doing better and is hopeful that Carroll can preserve the infected mosquitoes. Additionally, Reed is worried that Carroll may not have a better opportunity to use the filtrate before Carroll returns to the U.S. Reed discusses that classes at the Columbian Exposition will begin soon and he hopes a new laboratory will be outfitted for larger classes. In conclusion Reed asks Carroll if he had heard that the Marine Hospital Service started "A Yellow Fever Institute" with the goal of studying yellow fever.
Included is a transcript of the letter.

In this letter from James Carroll to his wife Jennie Carroll sent from Las Animas Hospital in Havana, Cuba, where he is stationed for the United States Yellow Fever Commission, Carroll informs Jennie that he has asked for an extension to conduct further studies. He tells her that he hopes to prove that healthy men should not die from yellow fever, and that he hopes to prove the effectiveness of inoculation. In conclusion he asks her not to mention what was included in this letter to anyone.

The Dr. James Carroll, Yellow Fever Commission Letters contain original letters to Janetta “Jennie” Carroll, Dr. Carroll’s wife as well as letters from Dr. Walter Reed, head of the United States Army Yellow Fever Commission in Cuba in 1900 and 1901. The research and experimentation completed by the Commission found that Yellow Fever was carried by Mosquitos and transmitted through their bites. The letters in this collection shed light on the research and experimentation process as well as the living conditions in Cuba during the Commission’s work. The letters provide a personal insight into the men who discovered the cause of Yellow Fever.