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* To be classified according to agents.
(a) Chemical Poisons (type to be stated)
(b) Salmonella (type to be stated)
(c) Staphylococci (including toxin)
(d) CI. Botulism
(e) CI. welchii
(f) Other bacteria (to be named)
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11 (Typhi murium 9, Untypable 2).
3
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2
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Public Health (Infectious Disease) Regulations, 1927
The classical case of a typhoid carrier is that of "Typhoid
Mary" a one-time cook in New York City. Cases of typhoid
occurred with regularity in the various households in which she
was employed, e.g., 1901—1 case ; 1902—9 cases ; 1904—4 cases ;
1906—6 cases. In addition she may well have been responsible for
the New York outbreak in 1903 with 1,300 cases.
In 1907 she was put under supervision, but broke her promise
to report regularly and to give up her work as a cook. She then
infected another twenty-five cases at a New York hospital, left
hurriedly, but was ultimately found and given a job under supervision
in the health laboratories, and died twenty years later.
The Walthamstow counterpart is "Mrs. X" who, in 1938
(when she was fifty-eight years of age) was found to be working at a
cafe in Walthamstow, but living in another area. In 1936 she had
been under treatment at a fever hospital for typhoid, but discharged
herself against medical advice and apparently without her carrier
condition being cleared. After her discovery, notice was served on
her under the 1927 Regulations to cease employment as a cook and
joint compensation was agreed between the two authorities concerned.
In 1939 she was employed as a convenience attendant and
so continued until her retirement.
The carrier condition was tested annually and almost without
exception, there was a positive result each year between 1938 and
1958. Compensation at a modest sum still continues because
"Mrs. X" is considered to be capable of undertaking work at home
in connection with outside functions.
Although her carrier condition is comparable with that of
"Typhoid Mary," fortunately "Mrs. X" was discovered apparently
before causing any known cases of typhoid.