Legal History Commons^™

Mayor V. Fairfield Improvement Company: The Public's Apprehension To Accept Nineteenth Century Medical Advancements, Ryan Wiggins, Daniella Einik

Legal History Publications

The following paper first outlines the story behind Mayor v. Fairfield and the procedural progression of the case through the court of equity and the Court of Appeals. Second, the paper discusses nineteenth century medical views on leprosy and infectious diseases and the reluctance of the public to accept these medical views. Finally, the paper analyzes how both medical opinion and public perception impacted public health laws and judicial opinions at the time.