18 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



the patient was brought to bed and several days, perhaps, 

 after apparent recovery. But it is only within com- 

 paratively recent years that the "chronic carrier" has 

 become recognized. 



Howard gives many instances of this type of affected 

 individual, among the more notable of which are the 

 two following : 



" The first case here to receive general notice was that of 

 'Typhoid Mary,' an Irish cook, who was discovered by 

 Dr. George A. Soper of New York. She had been cook 

 with a family on Long Island and during the summer of 

 1906 several cases of typhoid occurred. The writer was 

 consulted, and advised that Doctor Soper be called in to 

 make a thorough investigation. The results of Doctor 

 Soper's search were most interesting. After studying 

 every possible source with absolutely negative results, 

 the proper examinations were begun, and it was dis- 

 covered that Mary, the cook, was a chronic carrier. 

 Her past history was looked into, and it was found that 

 for several years there had been typhoid cases in nearly 

 every family who had engaged her. She was immedi- 

 ately isolated and kept in custody three years. Then 

 she was released, promising never again to engage as 

 cook and to report at frequent intervals. She returned 

 after four months, saying that she could get no work 

 and was placed by the New York City Department of 

 Health in one of the laundries of a public institution, 

 where she still remains." 



"In another instance an epidemic of typhoid in the 

 Tenth German Army Corps in the summer of 1909 was 

 traced to a chronic carrier in the case of a woman who 

 prepared vegetables and who had assisted in the prep- 



