American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-04-11
The sickness at Washington,

The sickness at Washington.
This affair is still attracting very gen.
eral attention, as persons from all parts
"f the country axe suffering from the
effect oftheir visit. The belief that poi-
soned rats dying in the water reservoir
of tho Natioual Hotel, has somewhat
given away under statements which
show that the sickness was confined TO
no particular spot in the city, but exist.
ed the entire length of Pennsylvania
avenue. The editor of the New Yo,k
Day Book, who was at the National Ho.
tel at the time of the Inauguration, re-
Jects the rat theory, and sums up care,
tul article reviewing the whole case, as
follows: -.
Horace II. Day, Esq. is now lying
very low in this city. He wxa board
er there, and no doubt is affected pro-
cisely as Mrs. Adams. A daughter OF
Senator James is also very sick aud un.
dor the charge of DIR. Marcy. DR.. Lo.
on has several patients including child
OF the writer, who is very low. That
we havo all been poisoned by some sub
stance daily administered to Us in the
food is beyond a question. What that
substance was, how or by whom admin
istered, remains mystery. The pro.
Prietors OF the house, we are Sa,isfi.
ed, have used every effort and means in
their power TO find out the cause of this
wide spread inflclion, but in vain. To
them it is as profound mystery as to
any in the land"
The Daily Jacksonian, of Newark, N.
j., says: ".. ...- ...
"Among the individuals suffering from
a sojouru atthe National Hotel, Wash
lngton, is our fellow citizen, Col. Ham,
ilton, editor of the Sussex Herald. He
came on with US from Trenton on Fri
day forenoon on his way home. He
has lost tlosh wonderfully, and is still
suffering from deranged bowels, produ-
eng incessant diarh9a that it seems i'm
possible to check, and that weakens
and emaciates him very much. He
says OF forty that partook of the special
banquet at the National, ovory ono was
taken down and are still suffering"
A letter from Washington says
"The disease which has been so pre-
vaient at tho National Hotel, is not
confined to that establishment, but is
veiy general on the line of tho avenue.
where the water used is obtained from
springs, having their head on the more
elevated portions of the city north of
that point. Almost every second per
son have met for two DAYS, who have
made use of this water, complain of the
Same symptoms that afflct the guests of
tho National. 1t is now my finn be.
lief That in consequence OF tho sudden
melting of the vast body Of snow, tire
water from the surface has penetrated
the veins leading to the springs, carry.
ing with it some deleierious Substances.
! have my6eif been afflicted with the
complaint for several weeks, and found
relief by change of water"
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Times, disposes Of tho story
that tho sickness had been caused by
poisoned rats by stating that the water.
tank into which the rats were said to
have plunged, after they were poisoned
8 upon the roof of tho building, from
which its sides rise perpendicularly at
least eight feet. 1t is not easy to see
how rat could climb that height with.
out assistance especially when weak and
dying from the effects of poison. Nei.
ther was the water from the tank used
for drinking or cooking purposes, bu,
only for bathing. The correspondent
adds that there is no doubt Of tho sick.
ness being caused by defective sewer.
age, the removal Of which it is believed
will restore tho usual good health of the
hotel.