“Tues a.m. got out of contagious Sun. Feel almost well now. Am off duty for a week so I am going down town and tomorrow go to Hyde Park to stay with my aunt a few days. Ma Haynes do not be afraid, I didn’t send any “dip bugs” in the letter. It was well fumigated. With love Lara(?)”
Ewww, what are dip bugs? Maybe like bed bugs? I tried Googling it, but didn’t find any relevant results. I wonder what this person had that was contagious! The patient was most likely in Cook County Hospital, since this is a postcard of that hospital. This card was sent in 1909 to Bernice Haynes in Michigan.
Moore's Postcard Museum 
Hmm, maybe “dip” is what she was sick with? Diphtheria, perhaps?
Cards sent from hospitals always seem to be a little odd. I have one from Cook County Hospital that reads: “Just a card to let you know that I am still alive. I saw things in my line today that I did not know were in existence. Hope you are getting along swell in your school work”. Creepy.
I agree with Mandy – especially since there was a big diptheria epidemic at the end of 1908.
Evelyn in Montreal
Diptheria came to mind for me, also…..
sometimes the cards mailed from TB hospitals were DISINFECTED — and the word stamped on the back of the card. those are not common but we find them once in a while.