The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-06
Sanitation Of Clemson.
A Clear and Convincing
Statement.

To the Editor of The News and Cou-
rier: Tn year editorial. September 81,
on the Sanitation of Clemson Col
lege," amoog other things. you say
thar 1.-THE College is in full operation
again with several hundred students
aud the public is entitled to know ex-
aosly What has been done to insure the
institution against repetition Of the
disaster tha, befell il in June" A
very grave responsibility rests upon
the College officials. not ouly Cd ao-
count Of the epidemic which occurred
10 June, but also the responsibility of
seeing to /. that nothing of the same
kind shall ever occur egaiu, if pcsis-
BILE to avoid it.
The board Of trustees, regardless OF
who was to blame for what has already
happened, realized that upon them
rested the responsibility of avoiding a
repetition of the disaster A commit
tee of tie State board of health ex
pressed its opinion as to the nature Of
the disease aud the causes which pro-
duced it. The College surgeon, who
has proven himself to be entitled tc the
eop6dence of all who are familiar with
bis treatment of diseases, aud other
nhysicans of high character among the
fraternity, aud the people generally.
Who were called in and helped to treat
the disease, also expressed their opin-
ion as to the nasaseo of the disease and
the causes which produced it.
Unfortunately for the board. these
that is, the board of health and the
surgeon and those who assisted him
differed widely as to the nature Of the
the disease, aud to the causes which
produced it.
What could the board DO ander such
circumstances I? Not being experts
themselves, shey determined to heed as
far as possible the suggestion Of both
bodies. After carefully considering
the situation and sthe difficulties scr-
rounding them, they determined to
chaoge lhe time of giviog vacation
from winter to summer, experience hav
log demonstrated that close application
to study and work through the bot
sumner months operated injuriously
upon the physical condition Of many
students, aud made them fit subjects
for disease.
The water closets have been over
hauled aud their capacity enlarged.
The sewers have been examined for
errors of construction. and every sus-
picions cause corrected. And a more
certain aud efficient method of flushing
the sewers has been provided.
The barracks have been thoroughly
renovated; first. the floors secured and
then painted, the walls scoured and
painted and kalsonined. A hard
cement walk, ssoping from the building,
has been pnt around the entire build
ing. with cement gutter at the cutter
edge to carry off the water that may
fall upon it or the water used in wash
ing of the walk. Beneath this cement
walk are under drains also This
cement walk being intended TO prevent
the accumulation By absorption of any
foul matter around the bulldog
The beds and mattresses have been
cleaned and fumigated. Outside. all
places where water or dampness could
accumulate have been filed up. dry,
hard walks constructed, or are to be
constructed, from the barracks to the
lecture rooms, shops. etc.
The mnch talked of abandoned ditch
has been filed up, and the pits in the
bottoms, from where clay to make brick
vas obtained. will be filled up before
spring. ALI trash upon the grounds
cleaned up
A local board of health has been ap-
pointed, charged with overlooking all
private premises and privies, aud With
power to remove any other source of
danger that might appear. TIE
surgeoo has been vested with authority
to inspect the diet in the mess hall, snd
forbid the use of any particular thing,
in his opinion, best not to be eaten
He is authorized also to see to it that
10 work and drill due regard shall be
had to the health of the students. The
sanitary condition Of the dairy has
beer attended to, aud the feed and feed
ing of the COWS aud the handling the
milk will be particularly attended to.
It will be readily seen. at least b.
those faciliar with the College and its
surroundings, that the matters enuue-
rated above cover every condition
affecting the health Of those attending
the College. except such as will now
refer to, aod about which the board of