characteristic interest under seal, of course, of professional confidence. I flattered myself that my
reputation was such that none of those who received the questionnaires would think the request actuated
either by idle curiosity or slightest unethical motive.
I received in response seven letters and a personal visit from the writer of one of them. Each letter,
except one, gave me in various degrees of medical conservatism, the information I had asked. After
reading them, there was no question that within six months seven persons of oddly dissimilar
characteristics and stations in life had died as had Peters.
Chronologically, the cases were as follows:
May 25: Ruth Bailey, spinster; fifty years old; moderately wealthy; Social Registerite and best of
reputation; charitable and devoted to children. June 20: Patrick McIlraine; bricklayer; wife and two