ABSTRACT
On the first day of July, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge's youngest son, 16-year-old Calvin Coolidge, Jr., developed a friction blister on his toe while playing tennis. When it became infected, doctors poured bichloride of mercury, an antiseptic, over the wound, applied hot packs to his foot, and elevated his leg. Still, red streaks inched along his skin from ankle to thigh. There was no doubt that blood poisoning was setting in. More heroic measures were needed.
