December 19 Sunday – Orion wrote, related his mistaking ammonia water for cough medicine with the resultant emergency:

My conversation is now almost entirely confined to nods and shakings of the head. The doctor (Jenkins) visits me here 2 ½ times a day and forbids my going out of the house, lest I take cold in my throat. My diet is milk, for which I yearn, but which I approach with dred on account of the pain and difficulty swallowing. Friday evening I was nearly unable to swallow at all.

His main concern seems to have been the time lost on his work of history research for Sam. Mollie would write her letter and send them both the next day. [MTP].