Ed, I am decidedly better f'm my second grip—(was a bad 'un)—have been out bet'n 2 & 3 hours to-day, in a hansom—Enjoy'd all—Dr B[ucke]2 is here (at "the Aldine" Cape May City New Jersey)—God bless you, boy—
Walt WhitmanCorrespondent:
Edward "Ned" Wilkins
(1865–1936) was one of Whitman's nurses during his Camden years; he was
sent to Camden from London, Ontario, by Dr. Richard M. Bucke, and he began
caring for Whitman on November 5, 1888. He stayed for a year before returning to
Canada to attend the Ontario Veterinary School. Wilkins graduated on March 24,
1893, and then he returned to the United States to commence his practice in
Alexandria, Indiana. For more information, see Bert A. Thompson, "Edward
Wilkins: Male Nurse to Walt Whitman," Walt Whitman Review
15 (September 1969), 194–195.