And let me premise here, that in science at least, great names are landmarks; and the owners of these names have traversed and gleaned in fields where many a devoted laborer had delved and sown, and pathetically sweated blood in his altruistic zeal. In science at least no man works in vain. Full many an one, worthy of an elegy, has given his whole life to establishing a fact, or indeed only an item to a fact; his work unrealized, ridicule and even persecution ofttimes his only compensation, throughout perhaps in the meanest destitution, yet his life and his work have been absolutely essential to the building of a mighty fabric. Martyrs have been many among such—dying from the diseases from which they sought to defend others; knowing, too, full well, what their own fate would be. Nor does it in any wise detract from the gratitude due the great man that he has profited by the labors of others, adding what he can of his own, scrutinizing every detail, every datum, permeating and illuminating with his own genius, cementing the mass with his own deductions.
And from Flexner:
Remarkable achievements are never unique occurrences in nature. Even the greatest men rest on the shoulders of a multitude of smaller ones who have preceded them; and epochal discoveries emerge out of a period of intellectual restlessness that affects many minds.
CHAPTER VII
CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. REED
As illustrating the way in which we looked at conditions at Havana at the time that our mosquito work was first begun, I will quote correspondence which took place between Dr. Reed and myself at this time.
(1)
War Department, Surgeon General’s Office,
Army Medical Museum and Library,
Washington, May 16, 1901.
My dear Gorgas:
Briefly speaking, how is the yellow-fever situation in Havana? I got your report for April and noted, with much pleasure and satisfaction, your enthusiasm in tackling C. fasciatus and her numerous cousins. Later, I think on May 4th, I read of “a serious outbreak” in your town, to the extent of two cases. Since then I have heard nothing concerning the progress of your epidemic. How many cases have you at the present writing, and what are your prospects of prognostications for the future? I ask for this information particularly because Dr. Durham, of the English Commission, in a letter recently received, has proposed to join us in Cuba for the purpose of trying to reconcile his work, or rather the results of his work, at Para, Brazil, with our observations at Quemados, and as he will reach here during the last week in May, it is barely within the bounds of possibility that you may again see us back in our old haunts by July 1st. Everything will depend upon Dr. Sternberg’s decision.... As much as I should like to see you and other friends, I would prefer to spend the summer in the United States. I hear that my friend, Kean, has been promoted to be the head of Charities and Correction for the Island. Who, then, is Post Surgeon at Columbia Barracks? How does Dr. Guiteras succeed at his propagating station? I trust that your own and Mrs. Gorgas’ health is very good. Please remember me very kindly to the latter and to Col. Havard and Glennan.
Sincerely yours,
Walter Reed.