April 27, 1936
Dear Dr. Apgar:
I have your telegram of April 20, your letter of April 21, and a letter from Dr. Rovenstine, which shall be answered herewith.
Dr. Rovenstine was right that there was some question about there being an opening July 1st on the Anesthesia service at Wisconsin.  The present outlook is that the service is full, with a very slight element of uncertainty as to one appointment following July 1.  I therefore fear that I could offer you nothing in the way of definite appointment.
Being interested in the progress of Anesthesia in the United States, it is, of course, scarcely possible that I could fail to be intensely interested in Dr. Whipple's efforts to improve the anesthesia at Columbia.  Under the circumstances of your arrangement with Dr. Whipple I presume it would be quite impossible anyway for you to take the usual three year residency which is the only means that we have of offering organized instruction to medical graduates.  It occurs to me that you might find it profitable to spend a certain amount of time as a visitor and observer here.  The place is open at all times to visitors so long as they are medical graduates, and the members of the service do their best to make the time of such visitors profitable.  There are usually two meetings a week of the Anesthesia staff here.  The work of the week is discussed and the literature reading of the members is reported.  If you wish to plan at any time to spend time, either a great deal or a little, as such a visitor and observer here, I am sure you would be very welcome.
This is the only suggestion that I can think of at present that might, to some extent, meet your requirements.  I could perhaps say quite unofficially that if you were available here over quite a period of tins and at a time when some of the people on the service were taking their vacations so that help was not too plentiful, it might very readily be that there would be considerable practical experience available to you.  This I can not say officially and it would depend on your own relationships with the members of the department and the needs at the time you happen to be here.
With best wishes for your success and with kindest regards, I am
Sincerely,
Ralph M Waters
R. M. Waters M. D.
Dept. of Anesthesia