Monday, November 8, 2010

rms booktalks 11/09/2010

  • Caper, William.TYPHOID FEVER : DIRTY FOOD, DIRTY WATER!New York : Bearport Publilshing, 2011IL 3-6, RL 4.6ISBN 1936088045In the summer of 1906, Charles Warren and his family rented a house on Long Island for a vacation. Lots of sun and fun. But his daughter came down with a fever and within a week, five more people got sick. They were diagnosed with typhoid fever. This was one of the worst diseases around and had no cure. Fortunately, no one in the family died but Warren wanted to know how they got the disease. He hired an expert to come in and test the water and the food and all the servants. They found no reason for the outbreak. When the expert tested a former cook at the house, he found that she carried the virus. She was not sick but she could infect anyone she came in contact with. Mary the cook soon became knows as Typhoid Mary -- an expression we still use today to indicate someone who carries a disease. But Mary never accepted her diagnosis.

    tags: podcasts blueduke


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