Vanessa Richardson

After all, typhoid fever was thought to be a disease of the poor and working class. The Warrens were neither. After putting the clues together, Soper zeroed in on the Warrens' cook, Mary Mallon. He traced back her work history and realized that almost every time Mary Mallon left another cooking job, it was right after an unexplained outbreak within the household of typhoid fever.

After all, typhoid fever was thought to be a disease of the poor and working class. The Warrens were neither. After putting the clues together, Soper zeroed in on the Warrens' cook, Mary Mallon. He traced back her work history and realized that almost every time Mary Mallon left another cooking job, it was right after an unexplained outbreak within the household of typhoid fever.

Soper believed that Mary didn't actually know she was carrying typhoid. And how would she? Healthy carriers don't suffer the symptoms themselves. Fever, rash, headache, and diarrhea. Mary hadn't shown any of these symptoms in her whole life. She knew she had never herself had typhoid fever. And in 1907, no one had ever even heard the term asymptomatic carrier before.

Soper believed that Mary didn't actually know she was carrying typhoid. And how would she? Healthy carriers don't suffer the symptoms themselves. Fever, rash, headache, and diarrhea. Mary hadn't shown any of these symptoms in her whole life. She knew she had never herself had typhoid fever. And in 1907, no one had ever even heard the term asymptomatic carrier before.

So it makes sense then that when Soper showed up at her home to tell her she was killing people with typhoid, she got more than a little defensive. In fact, when Soper accused her of leaving behind a trail of disease and death, Mary picked up a carving fork and went for him. This was definitely not a promising first encounter.

So it makes sense then that when Soper showed up at her home to tell her she was killing people with typhoid, she got more than a little defensive. In fact, when Soper accused her of leaving behind a trail of disease and death, Mary picked up a carving fork and went for him. This was definitely not a promising first encounter.

George Soper was rattled, frightened, and thoroughly disenchanted with Mary Mallon. he acknowledged that he might not be the man for the job. Because capturing Mary Mallon might not be a man's job. Dr. S. Josephine Baker was all too familiar with sexism. She graduated from medical school at a time when less than 5% of practicing physicians were female.

George Soper was rattled, frightened, and thoroughly disenchanted with Mary Mallon. he acknowledged that he might not be the man for the job. Because capturing Mary Mallon might not be a man's job. Dr. S. Josephine Baker was all too familiar with sexism. She graduated from medical school at a time when less than 5% of practicing physicians were female.

And it was Baker who was sent to Mary's home to try to complete the task that Soper had not been able to, get Mary to cooperate and provide samples for testing. On Baker's first attempt, Mary met her, as she did Soper, with unvarnished hostility and a slammed door in the face.

And it was Baker who was sent to Mary's home to try to complete the task that Soper had not been able to, get Mary to cooperate and provide samples for testing. On Baker's first attempt, Mary met her, as she did Soper, with unvarnished hostility and a slammed door in the face.

But Baker had read Soper's initial report, so she was not surprised when Mary turned violent, and by their second encounter, she was ready to play defense. This time, Baker brought a handful of policemen with her. Unfortunately for her, this had no effect on Mary's willingness to brandish her usual weapon, the carving fork. Perhaps Baker felt some degree of empathy towards Mary Mallon.

But Baker had read Soper's initial report, so she was not surprised when Mary turned violent, and by their second encounter, she was ready to play defense. This time, Baker brought a handful of policemen with her. Unfortunately for her, this had no effect on Mary's willingness to brandish her usual weapon, the carving fork. Perhaps Baker felt some degree of empathy towards Mary Mallon.

She understood what it was like to be a woman in New York City in the early 1900s. But any empathy Baker felt towards Mary's plight could outweigh Baker's duty to her work. Breaking the detente, Baker dived at Mary Mallon. But Mary was faster. Carving forks still in her fist, she ran deeper into the house, disappearing into the darkness.

She understood what it was like to be a woman in New York City in the early 1900s. But any empathy Baker felt towards Mary's plight could outweigh Baker's duty to her work. Breaking the detente, Baker dived at Mary Mallon. But Mary was faster. Carving forks still in her fist, she ran deeper into the house, disappearing into the darkness.

By the time Baker recovered, Mary Mallon was absolutely nowhere to be found. Baker and her police escort began to comb the house. They threw open closet and wardrobe doors, overturned mattresses, and upended tables and chairs. Through the chaos and clatter, Baker questioned the other women in the house. Tell them where Mary was hiding.

By the time Baker recovered, Mary Mallon was absolutely nowhere to be found. Baker and her police escort began to comb the house. They threw open closet and wardrobe doors, overturned mattresses, and upended tables and chairs. Through the chaos and clatter, Baker questioned the other women in the house. Tell them where Mary was hiding.

In solidarity with their fellow worker, the servants didn't say a word. They had never even heard of Mary Mallon, some claimed. Baker and the police tore the house apart, but for five fruitless hours, all their search came to nothing. until finally one of the policemen found Mary concealed in a closet behind a pile of ash cans.

In solidarity with their fellow worker, the servants didn't say a word. They had never even heard of Mary Mallon, some claimed. Baker and the police tore the house apart, but for five fruitless hours, all their search came to nothing. until finally one of the policemen found Mary concealed in a closet behind a pile of ash cans.

As he tried to pull her out from behind them, she leapt at him, all the while kicking, screaming, and swearing. After a prolonged scuffle, he managed to take hold of her. Mary Mallon was forcibly dragged through room after room, out the front door, along the front walk, and into a waiting ambulance.

As he tried to pull her out from behind them, she leapt at him, all the while kicking, screaming, and swearing. After a prolonged scuffle, he managed to take hold of her. Mary Mallon was forcibly dragged through room after room, out the front door, along the front walk, and into a waiting ambulance.