Dart’s letter explains why it’s been such a long time since his last one; this boy’s been sick! Not just measles, but pneumonia, too. The Navy docs experimented with some extreme drug therapy of sulfathiazole for several doses, trying to kick the pneumonia out of his system. When that failed, they brought in this new drug called penicillin – a yellow, oily substance that had to be slowly injected into muscle every three hours for five days.

Dart is trying to write a humorous account of his travails, but I think he’s either a little too scared, or just too exhausted to hit the right tone. One thing is certain, though – Dot’s letters were the bright spot in his days. How he wishes he’d be well enough to go home and see her again!