Prompt Cast
The Wind Cries Typhoid Mary: The Filthy Conditions and Forced Quarantine Measures in New York City
TLDR This podcast episode explores the filthy conditions in New York City in the late 19th century, which led to the formation of the Department of Sanitation and the implementation of forced quarantine measures. It also delves into the story of Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, who was forcibly quarantined due to being a healthy carrier of typhoid fever.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The podcast episode titled "The Wind Cries Typhoid Mary" discusses the issue of horse manure in New York City in the late 19th century.
05:02
The episode discusses the filthy conditions in New York City at the turn of the century, which led to the formation of the Department of Sanitation and the implementation of forced quarantine measures due to the understanding of germ theory.
09:22
Typhoid fever is easily spread through handling feces and uncooked food, and in the case of an outbreak in Oyster Bay in 1906, it was discovered that a woman named Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, had worked for several families with typhoid outbreaks.
13:47
Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, was believed to be a healthy carrier of typhoid fever, meaning she had the disease but her immune system suppressed it, making her extremely contagious, and George Soper, a scientist, wanted to prove this.
18:27
Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, was a successful cook for wealthy families who resisted being tested for typhoid fever and was eventually forcibly quarantined.
22:41
Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, was forcibly quarantined on North Brother Island, a tuberculosis hospital quarantine, despite not having tuberculosis or any symptoms, and she hired a private lab to test her stool samples which did not show the same results as the public health department's tests.
26:47
Mary Mallon was forcibly quarantined on North Brother Island and received newspaper coverage, but eventually a new health commissioner freed her and got her a job in a Laundrie, which she did not want to do.
30:52
Mary Mallon was found cooking in a hospital under an assumed name, causing another typhoid outbreak, and she willingly went back into quarantine after public opinion turned against her.
35:48
The legacy of Typhoid Mary sparks a debate over how much civil liberty a person should have when they pose a public health threat.
40:00
The hosts discuss some misconceptions about the moon and encourage listeners to send in corrections.
Categories:
Society & Culture
