1901 Diptheria Outbreak Embro Ontario Canada Letter w/ Postal Cover For Sale

This Postal Analysis covers a remarkable turn-of-the-century Canadian cover and a lengthy four-page letter that provides a chilling firsthand account of a diphtheria outbreak in a small village.
Postal Description
Origin: Embro, Ontario.
Destination: Toronto, Ontario.
Date: Feb 11, 1901.
Franking: 2-cent red Queen Victoria \"Numeral\" issue (Scott #77). This stamp was part of the 1898-1902 series that replaced the \"Maple Leaf\" issue.
Postmark: A clear circular date stamp (CDS) from EMBRO / FE 11 / 01 / ONT. * Cancellation: A 4-bar target or \"killer\" cancel.
Letter TranscriptionThe letter is from a mother to her son, Harry. While it begins with social pleasantries, it quickly shifts into a detailed medical and financial report of the town.
Page 1:
\"Embro, Feby 11th 1901.My dear Harry,Our Tea Meeting is over for another year we did not have a very large crowd. $54.00 were taken in at the door. So many people have colds and the Diphtheria being in the village frightened a great many but those who came from the country brought large baskets so we had a good supply eatables. Mr. Knowles was first class as a Lecturer... Mr. Patterson was out that night he has been very ill with \'Grippe\' but is a little better...\"
Page 2-3 (The Outbreak):
\"Mr. Green sent for your Father to go and see Cecil Gould he was not at home when Gould came for him in the afternoon but got home at half past six then Green came in a great hurry but before they got down to Goulds Cecil was dead. Mildred & two of the other boys were sick. Your Father examined their throats. Gould asked your father what did he think was the matter with them. Your father said he did not know what Mr. Green called it. Green spoke up & said he had the diagnosis open well your father said if you have I call it diphtheria. The whole village became alarmed. The Goulds were quarantined at once... that is what Mrs. Way died of... Willie George Sanders has it very light. Anna has had a very bad cold... I had to make her take some iron... she was afraid she might get sick like the Ways or Goulds. The schools are closed for a while. Bill Campbell died Saturday evening will be buried this afternoon.\"
Page 4:
\"Kindest love from all, Mother.\"
Historical ResearchDiphtheria in 1901: This letter captures the terror of diphtheria before the widespread use of antitoxins. The description of the \"throat examination\" and the immediate quarantine of the Gould family illustrates the only defense communities had at the time. The mention of schools closing was a standard response to \"The Strangling Angel,\" as diphtheria was then known.
The Individuals: * Harry (Recipient): Likely H.J. Adams, living at 7 Leach [likely Leach or Larch] Street in Toronto.
\"Your Father\": Likely the local physician, given he was called to examine throats and provide a diagnosis.
Embro, Ontario: A small farming community in Oxford County. In 1901, news of a death like Cecil Gould\'s would have effectively halted all social life, explaining the poor turnout at the \"Tea Meeting.\"
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