Letter to Dr. George B. Todd's 2^nd Wife, Ella dated

Author: Dr. George Brainard Todd
Date: March 14, 1874
Location: New York Naval Hospital
Addressee: Ms Ella S. Todd, Dr. Todd's 2nd wife, Ella S. Latsch
Address: 427 W. Fayette, where a letter dated December 8, 1873 was mailed to Dr. Todd.
Names Mentioned: Hattie; New York Naval Hospital; Mr. Murphy; Ella Todd, wife; Frederick Todd, son of Dr. Todd;
Letter Summary: Dr. Todd shares events in his life as a doctor at NY Naval Hospital.
Letter Provided By: Sandy Goll
Transcription Provided By: B.J. Peters

Below you'll see a transcription of the letter with a small graphic of the page that links to the full sized scanned image. Where the writing seems illegible, you'll see a line in the word or letter's place. If there's a little doubt about a word, phrase or letter you'll see it italicized. Where you see a word underlined, it's because Dr. Todd did so in his letter.

According to a list of Naval appointments dated 18 Dec 1873, printed in the NY Times issue of 19 Dec 1873 under the heading "Naval Intelligence - Assignments to Duty" from Washington, Dr. Todd was as of that date appointed to the NY Naval Hospital. It doesn't state for how long.

New York Naval Hospital

Saturday Night, March 14^th 1874

Ms. Ella S. Todd 427 West Fayette St Balto Md

My dear wife.

I guess I had better take a larger sheet thie time as I have a good deal to say. Your good letter of the 10 & 11^th came today, and will, you may be sure, be read more than once. You certainly did surprise me by saying Enna was Married, and I am sure I dont understand it at all.

Why the darned old fool has become a bigamist, and the first Miss Enna will know, she will be brought up in court to face the legitimate Mrs. Murphy.

Well, some persons really seem the fools and I must say, she seems determined to be a cussed fool. The balance of the news in your letter was very interesting, but not so startling. The wind continues to howl, and from last Sunday morning, ha(s?) blown a full gale from North West except about an hour today.

Yesterday we had as I expected a cargo of sick from Key West, and in the lot, two violently insane patients, one, so bad that when he came, he was in a straight jacket and we have been compelled to keep him in it ever since.

Today it was taken off to have him washed and in less than a minute he had torn every rag off himself, and was as naked as when born. All last night I did not get half an hours continuous sleep as the cell in which he is confined is directly under my room, and such a howling cursing and growling I never heard before.

The other one is as crazy, but not so demonstrative. When I go down, (as I have several times today, it being my days duty) he would talk as sensibly as you please for a minute, and then fly off, all over the coop. Last night I told him to take off his shoes and go to bed, "Yes Sir" and pulled off shoes & stockings, rolled up his pants above his knees, and began rubbing his feet. I then asked him why he did not go to sleep _ lie down, he replied that he was trying to rub those damned big feet asleep, but somehow they were so big that he didn't believe they would ever go to sleep, and that he had to get them to sleep first.

I had in all 18 new patients yesterday and among them two idiots that I cant do a thing with. I don't believe they know their heads from a 32 pound shot. None of the cases are very severe, and I hope to thin them out in a week or so. These crazy ones & idiots will be sent to Washington on Monday or Tuesday, and I should very much like to be ordered to go with them, but I presume Dr. _____ will go. I have been here all the afternoon alone, as somehow when I am on duty, every body clears out. Those chaps below must be trying to howl a duet, as they are now both at it. I most sincerely hope the indisposition of which you spoke in your last letter, is gone. do be careful of your health as I dont want a played out wife when I get home. I am very glad to hear such good reports from my dear boys & Florence, and I am sure they deserve all the praise you give them. I had a letter from Hattie this week, all babby, and I wrote her a good old letter. She was anxious to know what was good to obviate constipation in the baby, and I wrote a large sheet full, and if she knows any more after she reads it than before, I miss my guess.

All were well, Mamie enquired after you all, and especially about Freds progress in Music. Tell him I shall look for him to be some thing extra when I come home. There its 10 and I must close. A kiss and Pops best love to you and ours, from

Your Aff Husband -

Geo B