Peaches and Ice Cream
Soper understood that Mary’s employers and their families most likely did not contract typhoid fever from the hot meals she prepared and served, because heat kills most bacteria. That’s when he identified the real source of the problem: Mary’s ice cream and peaches dessert. When the police showed up at Mary’s door she was shoved into an ambulance and, at one point, restrained.
Source: craftycookingmama.com
Mary was sent to Willard Parker Hospital, where she stayed for four days until she finally agreed to give samples. Doctors found massive amounts of typhoid bacteria, and when they questioned Mary, she admitted to almost never washing her hands. This may sound repulsive now, but remember this was back when people didn’t understand how germs work.