Below are two messages from the 1920s, both sent to the same man — Frederick Banting — as a result of his enormous contribution to a scientific development which to this day continues to save the lives of many. That development was the discovery and isolation of insulin. The first is a letter of thanks from one of the first batch of diabetic patients — a grateful young boy named Teddy Ryder who, due to the groundbreaking treatment, lived to the age of 76. That same year, 1923, Frederick Banting and J. J. R. Macleod were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their efforts. They were notified by way of the telegram also seen below.

Transcripts follow.

(Source: Discovery of Insulin Collection at the University of Toronto Library; Image of Banting via Wikipedia.)

Transcripts

DEAR DR. BANTING, I WISH YOU COULD COME TO SEE ME. I AM A FAT BOY NOW AND I FEEL FINE. I CAN CLIMB A TREE. MARGARET WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU. LOTS OF LOVE FROM TEDDY RYDER ——————- CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY’S TELEGRAPH

TELEGRAM

CABLE CONNECTIONS TO ALL THE WORLD

J. McMILLAN, General Manager of Telegraphs, Montreal. 187AXJW-38 VIA HX OCT 25TH

STOCKHOLM DOCTOR FREDERICK G BANTING

INSTITUTE OF PHYSIOLOGY

TORONTO CANADA THE THE ROYAL CAROLINE INSTITUTE HAS PRESENTED TO YOU TOGETHER WITH PROFESSOR W J R MACLEOD THE NOBEL PRIZE OF THE YEAR 1923. YOURS SINCERELY HJALMAR FORSSNER PRINCIPAL OF THE INSITTUTE 1030PM