Miss Foote and her Studies of the Festive Cootie
Title
Miss Foote and her Studies of the Festive Cootie
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP15534
Date
1918 December 15
Description
Note by Cary T. Grayson about a story told by President Woodrow Wilson.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
President’s Story of Miss Foote and her Studies of the Festive Cootie
Miss Foote had a very dear lifelong friend who died shortly after we entered the war, so Miss Foote came over to France where she had been carrying on research work and aiding in charitable work. She has been making some extensive experiments regarding the origin and habits of the cootie. She discovered that a diet of 15 grains of quinine daily was fatal to a cootie, then naturally getting into the blood of the victim. One day a French subject upon whom Miss Foote was experimenting showed up “bunned.” Up to that time the cootie had been in no way belligerent, but when she began her experiments this day under the glass the cootie, full of French alcohol, began fighting, eating each other, so that soon only the strongest survived.
I think that is one of the best prohibition arguments I ever heard. Miss Foote suggested to my daughter (Margaret) who was going up to the front to sing for the soldiers that it would be advisable for her to try the quinine treatment. She was a good sport and signified her willingness to try the experiment, but first she asked Miss Foote what the effects of the quinine would be on her voice. After considering the matter a moment, Miss Foote sorrowfully suggested that it might not be best to try the quinine treatment at this time.
Miss Foote had a very dear lifelong friend who died shortly after we entered the war, so Miss Foote came over to France where she had been carrying on research work and aiding in charitable work. She has been making some extensive experiments regarding the origin and habits of the cootie. She discovered that a diet of 15 grains of quinine daily was fatal to a cootie, then naturally getting into the blood of the victim. One day a French subject upon whom Miss Foote was experimenting showed up “bunned.” Up to that time the cootie had been in no way belligerent, but when she began her experiments this day under the glass the cootie, full of French alcohol, began fighting, eating each other, so that soon only the strongest survived.
I think that is one of the best prohibition arguments I ever heard. Miss Foote suggested to my daughter (Margaret) who was going up to the front to sing for the soldiers that it would be advisable for her to try the quinine treatment. She was a good sport and signified her willingness to try the experiment, but first she asked Miss Foote what the effects of the quinine would be on her voice. After considering the matter a moment, Miss Foote sorrowfully suggested that it might not be best to try the quinine treatment at this time.
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Miss Foote and her Studies of the Festive Cootie,” 1918 December 15, WWP15534, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.