A discussion on Judith Leavitt's "Typhoid Mary"

1. Justin Archer
PAD5398

2.  Immigrated from Ireland
at age 15
 Worked as a cook for rich
NY families
 Healthy carrier of the
typhoid infection

3.  Typhoid fever outbreaks began to happen in families
she worked for
 George Soper investigated particular case and
concluded that Mary was the source of the disease
 After Mallon refused to voluntarily submit to testing
for typhoid, she was taken into custody by the health
department
 After determining that she is a healthy carrier, Mary
was sent to North Brother Island

4.  After 2 years at North
Brother Island, Mary
made an attempt to
regain her freedom
 After habeas corpus
hearing but she is still
not “cleared” from her
charges
 One year later, she was
given her freedom on the
condition that she never
cook for the public again

5.  Mallon is released from North Brother Island and
begins employment as a laundry worker
 Mary assumes an alias of Mrs. Brown, and resumes
cooking
 After an outbreak occurs at a maternity hospital, Soper
carries out investigation and discovers that “Mrs.
Brown” is the cause
 She is taken back to the island and lives in solitude for
23 years, until she dies of a stroke

6.  Conflicting opinions on
how Mary’s case should
have been handled
 Public Safety vs.
Individual Rights
 What do YOU think?

7.  Society still facing the same questions today
 Public health policy in other parts of the world
 When does the safety of the public outweigh the rights
of individuals?

8. 
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Leavitt, J. W. Typhoid Mary: Captive to the
Public’s Health. Beacon Press, 1996
Rosenberg, J. Typhoid Mary. About.com.
Retrieved from:
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1900s/a/typ
hoidmary.htm
Bovson, M. Mary Mallon, forever known as
Typhoid Mary, carried the deadly disease and
spread it to others. New York Daily News.
Retrieved
from:http://www.nydailynews.com/news/justi
ce-story/typhoid-mary-carrier-death-article1.1398166
Leavitt, J. W. Typhoid Mary: Villain or Victim?
NOVA. Retrieved from:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/typhoid
-mary-villain-or-victim.html
Typhoid Mary: Captive to the Public's
Health, Judith Walzer Leavitt. Primary Sources.
Retrieved from:
http://www.learner.org/workshops/primaryso
urces/disease/docs/leavitt2.html