The University of Minneapolis
The Medical School
MinneapolisDepartment of Physiology
November 19 1917.
Dear Miss Turner
I guess I do take the prize for being slow about writing letters, don't I? I haven't your letter with me - I am in the office - but this letter is one-twenty-ninth a business one and so I'm writing anyway and hoping that I'll be able to remember some of your question. First as to the business part of it. Do you know anything about Grete Egerer of Goucher, and if you don't know anything about her, will you just wildly inquire about her, of Miss Walters and extract what information you can? Dr. Rountree is looking for a chemist to work in the University hospital. One of the persons also has applied for the job is no good and I told him so, and now whether he thinks I'm a private detective agency or not, I don't know but he asked me to find out what I could about Miss Egerer, and so I'm endeavoring to carry out his wishes in this way. I've also written to Miss Carr to see if Margaret Willcox or some other person is available.
Now where shall I begin? Dr Lyon would be a good start. He is great. I certainly do like him and both he and Mrs Lyon have been perfectly fine to me. He is so fair and so splendid about keeping me choose[s] my work with a view to the future. I am having a course in Physiologic optics with him and it is very good. It's a seminar - three men and I surely at the end of this course, the days of astigmation and muscular deficiencies will lived [?] us terrors for me! I'm also having neurology and histology with the medics. Dr. Johnston & Dr Rasmussen give the former and Dr Scammon the latter. Rasmussen is from Cornell. Does Ann Morgan know him? He is killing, but he knows neurology and I imagine that it is his intention that we shall know it too! Then I am going to do research with Dr. Rountree. He is from Johns Hopkins. We are going to study the basal metabolism of various clinical cases. My purpose in going to Rochester was to see how they are doing it. Dr. Boothby installed the respiration laboratory there and then was called to France. Miss Sandiford is in charge of the experimental part in his absence. She knows no physiology but she certainly does understand the business of getting respiratory quotients and heat production. Dr. Plummer supplies the patients and their work is confined to cases of hyperthyroidism and myxodoema.
Interruption for another conference with Dr Rountree. Now I know he thinks I'm a detective agency!
While I was in Rochester I had a fine talk with Dr. Plummer. His ideas were way over my head, mostly, but I managed to follow his mental flights as the tail follows the kite - always there but never catching up! He said he wanted to give me something to think about. He did! He is a genius all right.
I've been spending a large part of the last week having medical examinations. I almost collapsed in the physical examination which the University requires of all students. I was tired I suppose and I had hurried over to the gym. Anyway they laid down the law to me. Number One who examined me, said Drop everything for a year - go to Florida - you can't stand this climate - you've overdone and you have strained your heart, &c &c. Number Two wasn't quite so sure that I need take the next train for the South but she felt I should have a tonic, lie down an hour after lunch and go to bed at 10 P.M. Well!!! - - - - - ! Oh yes and probably drop some work. Anyhow, I talked to Dr Lyon. He said, See any your doctors whom you want to, so I have been to Dr. White who is one of the best heart specialists and internal medicine specialists in this part of the country. I did a find faint for them during my examination and was much interested in all the medical phraseology that flowed forth all the time, e.g. syncopal attacks, cyanosis, murmur which disappears at inspiration and appears in held expiration, bradycardia &c &c. I left samples of blood and urine and they are making an examination right through. I've had two teeth xrayed and I'm to hav an electrocardiograph done tomorrow, and I'm to appear before Dr. White Wednesday! I don't think there is much the matter, but I'll know for sure after all this I guess. I haven't said anything about it to anyone yet. But I'll write you a note and tell you what he says.
Now I must go to lunch. It is late. This isn't much of a letter but I'll try to be better next time. I miss South Hadley terrible at times.
My dearest love to you