Vanessa Richardson

And he believed that, with the help of modern science, he could solve this typhoid mystery. Soper learned that the Warrens had changed cooks just before the outbreak, and that cook, Mary Mallon, had vanished shortly after. He took it upon himself to see if she'd worked anywhere else in the area.

And he believed that, with the help of modern science, he could solve this typhoid mystery. Soper learned that the Warrens had changed cooks just before the outbreak, and that cook, Mary Mallon, had vanished shortly after. He took it upon himself to see if she'd worked anywhere else in the area.

When he found out she had, and that these disappearances had become something of a pattern, he began to suspect what was going on. In George Soper's understanding of the matter, Mary Mallon was a kind of scientific phenomenon that health experts were only just beginning to understand in 1907. Soper discovered that Mary Mallon had never had typhoid herself, but was linked to several outbreaks.

When he found out she had, and that these disappearances had become something of a pattern, he began to suspect what was going on. In George Soper's understanding of the matter, Mary Mallon was a kind of scientific phenomenon that health experts were only just beginning to understand in 1907. Soper discovered that Mary Mallon had never had typhoid herself, but was linked to several outbreaks.

He suspected her of being an otherwise healthy carrier of the disease. A carrier is able to pass an illness to other people without suffering from its symptoms herself. Because they aren't sick themselves, carriers go about their normal lives without realizing that they're making other people ill. In some cases, they infect complete strangers.

He suspected her of being an otherwise healthy carrier of the disease. A carrier is able to pass an illness to other people without suffering from its symptoms herself. Because they aren't sick themselves, carriers go about their normal lives without realizing that they're making other people ill. In some cases, they infect complete strangers.

If Mary was a carrier of typhoid fever, and Soper was pretty sure that she was, then he needed to know everything about her. Where she went, who she saw there, she had to be watched. Because wherever she went, Mary Mallon had the potential to infect anyone. And it was up to George Soper to protect the public by any means necessary.

If Mary was a carrier of typhoid fever, and Soper was pretty sure that she was, then he needed to know everything about her. Where she went, who she saw there, she had to be watched. Because wherever she went, Mary Mallon had the potential to infect anyone. And it was up to George Soper to protect the public by any means necessary.

In George Soper's view, Mary Mellon was not necessarily an evil woman, but she was careless and uneducated. She just needed someone to show her the error of her ways. Once Soper explained things to her, he was certain that she would wise up and stop spreading the disease.

In George Soper's view, Mary Mellon was not necessarily an evil woman, but she was careless and uneducated. She just needed someone to show her the error of her ways. Once Soper explained things to her, he was certain that she would wise up and stop spreading the disease.

Doggedly, Soper traveled across New York City, Long Island, and the North Atlantic to dig up as much information about Mary Mallon as possible. He wanted to be sure he was right about her. As he talked to family after family, he painted for himself a clearer and clearer picture of Mary's role in these typhoid outbreaks. he became more and more sure that he was on the right track.

Doggedly, Soper traveled across New York City, Long Island, and the North Atlantic to dig up as much information about Mary Mallon as possible. He wanted to be sure he was right about her. As he talked to family after family, he painted for himself a clearer and clearer picture of Mary's role in these typhoid outbreaks. he became more and more sure that he was on the right track.

And not only was he on the right track, but he was doing the right thing. He was going to save countless lives. But as a man of laboratory science, he knew what he had to do. Up until this point, all he had was correlation, speculation, and hearsay. What George Soper needed was proof. In March of 1907, fueled by his research, Soper went to confront Mary Mallon.

And not only was he on the right track, but he was doing the right thing. He was going to save countless lives. But as a man of laboratory science, he knew what he had to do. Up until this point, all he had was correlation, speculation, and hearsay. What George Soper needed was proof. In March of 1907, fueled by his research, Soper went to confront Mary Mallon.

38-year-old Mary did not realize it then, but as she opened the door to George Soper, a larger, metaphorical door in her life slammed shut. In public reports following his first encounter with Mary Mallon, George Soper expressed surprise and disappointment. Particularly, he was discouraged by her lack of womanly niceties. He thought she was too rough around the edges to be respectable.

38-year-old Mary did not realize it then, but as she opened the door to George Soper, a larger, metaphorical door in her life slammed shut. In public reports following his first encounter with Mary Mallon, George Soper expressed surprise and disappointment. Particularly, he was discouraged by her lack of womanly niceties. He thought she was too rough around the edges to be respectable.

From the moment George Soper walked into her kitchen, Mary was on guard. She eyed him with suspicion, asking him what he was doing there. Mary's terse words and narrowed eyes told George Soper to get right to the point. So he did.

From the moment George Soper walked into her kitchen, Mary was on guard. She eyed him with suspicion, asking him what he was doing there. Mary's terse words and narrowed eyes told George Soper to get right to the point. So he did.

Speaking plainly, he told her that the Warrens had hired him to figure out what exactly had caused the typhoid outbreak in their summer home, and Soper had determined Mary Mallon was to blame. Mary was aghast. She'd never had typhoid in her life. But Soper assured her she was a carrier of a deadly disease. It was the only explanation. Mary's whole body went cold.

Speaking plainly, he told her that the Warrens had hired him to figure out what exactly had caused the typhoid outbreak in their summer home, and Soper had determined Mary Mallon was to blame. Mary was aghast. She'd never had typhoid in her life. But Soper assured her she was a carrier of a deadly disease. It was the only explanation. Mary's whole body went cold.