STORY TELLERS
Page 2
Typhoid Takes Its Toll
by: Kim Jones Dean
(To send Kim an e-mail, click on her name.)
March 26, 2005
- Typhoid fever can be a deadly disease even today. Typhoid is an acute illness with fever caused by infection with the "Salmonella typhi bacteria" which is contracted from contaminated food and water. The disease has a treacherous onset. It is characterized by fever, headache, constipation, chills, muscle pain and a feeling of "something is just not right". Confusion, delirium, intestinal perforation, and death may occur in severe cases. The disease is transmitted through contaminated drinking water or food. It can be spread through fecal matter or the disease can be transmitted by means of a "healthy carrier". The "healthy carrier" has the "Salmonella typhi bacteria" in their system and spreads the disease usually through food preparation.
In 1907, Mary Mallon, was the first "healthy carrier" found in the United States. Mary was born on September 23, 1869 in Cookstown, Ireland. She migrated to America at about the age of 15. Mary found that she had a talent for cooking. Mary was spreading the typhoid fever bacteria and didn't even know it. It is reported that Mary had seven different jobs from 1900 to 1907 and that 22 people had contracted typhoid fever and one young girl had died. Mary was captured and confined to a cottage on North Brother Island in New York from 1907 to 1910. Mary was released from her confinement on February 19, 1910. Part of her release agreement was that she would change her occupation from that of a cook and that she would go to the Health Department for regular exams. In January 1915 Mary was employed as a cook at the Sloane Maternity Hospital in Manhattan, New York. She was working under the name of Mrs. Brown. Twenty-five people became ill and two of them died from a typhoid fever outbreak. Needless to say Mary was again caught and confined to North Brother Island where she stayed until her death on November 11, 1938. Mary became known as "Typhoid Mary".
There were many typhoid fever outbreaks in the United States. Immunization for typhoid fever became available after 1911. However, many people still died from typhoid fever. On March 27, 1924 Floyd Jones (son of Rev. Jackson Jones and Mary Blevins) died from typhoid fever. Floyd's brother, Roy, went to get the doctor. Living in Dizney, Harlan Co., Kentucky, Roy left riding a horse and leading a horse. He went over the mountain into St. Charles, Virginia to get the doctor. As they were coming down the mountainside, Roy heard his mother scream. He knew that Floyd had died. Roy then had to take the doctor back and lead the horse back. On June 12, 1924 Andy Presley (son of Archie Presley and Hannah Brewer) died from typhoid fever. Andy's son, Elmer, left to get the doctor. Elmer was riding a horse and leading a horse as well. The Presley's also lived in Dizney, Harlan Co., Kentucky. Elmer went over the mountain to St. Charles, Virginia. When he returned with the doctor, Andy had already died. Elmer turned around and took the doctor home and lead back the horse.
There are many more people that died from Typhoid Fever. Floyd was my great uncle and Andy was my great grandpa.
