The best letter I have had for a long time was one this moment received written by
Dr. Mitchell jr.2 to Horace3 and
forwarded me by the latter. This letter gives an acct of the analysis of your water
and according to it your kidneys are absolutely sound.
There is nothing at all wrong with your water works except the enlarged prostate and
the irritation consequent upon it. Your main difficulty is that on account of the
enlargement of the prostate the bladder is not entirely emptied at any
time—the urine retained undergoes decomposition and causes
irritation—now what is wanted is that a catheter should be passed morning and
evening and all the water drawn
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off (in this way) twice a day. This would have to be done by a doctor for a time but
there is no reason whatever that Warran should not learn to do it as well as any
doctor after being instructed and provided with a proper catheter. I shall hope to
hear that this matter is put upon a proper footing at once
and after this is done I have every confidence that I shall hear of your being more
comfortable than for a long time back.
All well here—glorious weather—but alas! our snow is gone and we have to use wheels again.
All quiet with the meter5—too quiet! We do not get on nearly as fast as I should like but if we go slow I have confidance that we are going sure and now that I am relieved about your kidneys I have good hopes you will be with us to have the "good time coming"
R M BuckeCorrespondent:
Richard Maurice Bucke (1837–1902) was a
Canadian physician and psychiatrist who grew close to Whitman after reading Leaves of Grass in 1867 (and later memorizing it) and
meeting the poet in Camden a decade later. Even before meeting Whitman, Bucke
claimed in 1872 that a reading of Leaves of Grass led him
to experience "cosmic consciousness" and an overwhelming sense of epiphany.
Bucke became the poet's first biographer with Walt
Whitman (Philadelphia: David McKay, 1883), and he later served as one
of his medical advisors and literary executors. For more on the relationship of
Bucke and Whitman, see Howard Nelson, "Bucke, Richard Maurice," Walt Whitman: An
Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998).