A Letter Home to Mary's Mother

Front side of letter

Back side of letter

Mary's passport photo which was sent home with the letter

This letter to her mother is one of the many letters that Mary O’Rourke sent home to her family. These letters reveal some of the adjustments she has had to make while living in Pakistan. Here, she recounts adjustments necessary to remain physically healthy. According to the public health reports of Pakistan, disease was very prevalent during the time of O’Rourke’s stay [4]. As a result, Mary was required to take extra precautions daily. Here she tells her mother about sleeping under a mosquito net every night in order to keep the mosquitoes away because Pakistan is a desert community and the mosquitoes can often carry diseases, such as malaria. She also notes that she is taking Aralan pills for extra protection against malaria and to help prevent dysentery. In addition, the letter detials the fact that O’Rourke was put on strict diet, especially after a really bad attack of KT. She was not allowed to eat milk, butter, ice cream, custard, cream sauce, pastries in general, or any fresh fruit unless peeled. She was encouraged to only eat cooked vegetables and meat that was well done and to put iodine in her water. 

[4] Thomas A. Cockburn, "Epidemic Crisis in East Pakistan April-July, 1958," Public Health Reports 75, no. 1 (1896-1970): 26-36.

[2] Cohen, "Economic Development in Pakistan," 1-12.