Shipping Her Away
In March 1907, Mary was sent into quarantine on North Brother Island. Doctors believed that the disease originated from her gallbladder, and they wanted to remove it, but Mary refused. Surgery at the time was very dangerous, and many people had died from getting their gallbladders removed. How had Mary become infected? After lengthy questioning, doctors discovered that Mary’s mother had contracted the illness when she was pregnant with her.
The cabin on North Brother Island. Source: Pinterest
Although it was never officially confirmed, doctors believed that Mary was, in fact, born with the bacteria. Since she had no symptoms, Mary had unknowingly infected countless people her entire life. Seeing as Mary made a decent living as a cook, she refused to give up her job if and when she returned to the city.