The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-16
BAD PLUMBING
Caused Epidemic of Fever at
Normal, Say Directors.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT
SAYS THE SANITARY CONDITION
ARE NOW EXCELLENT.
INSTITUTION WILL 0PENrTS DOORS JAN 80
The People of Greensboro Assured the Direct
ors of Their Interest in the Welfare of TIE
Institution and of Their Sympathy in
ne Misfortune That BefeII It.

ne Misfortune hat BeteIl It.
Greensboro. y. c., Jan. f3.-(Spccial.)
The Directors of the State Normal and
Industrial College adjourned last night
after thoroughly canvassing all the facts
in regard to the late disastrous epidemic
of 1nalarial and typhoid fevers in that
institution. The Directors gave special
attention to the question as to when the
doors Of the college should be re-opened
to students, and decided that it was best
to fix the date for lam. Both. The report
Of the Board, adopted after mature delib-
Grafton. is in full as follows:
OFFICIAL REPORT.
The State Normal and Industrial Col
Icgc. being Il State institution. the pub
Tic is iterested in and entitled to infor-
nation relative to the recent epidemic of
malarial and typhoid fever, resulting in
eleven deaths at the college and three at
their homes after the students left the
college.
In view of the re-opening of the college
on the Both Of January, we, the board o.
directors. make the following official re-
port of the cause OF the epidemic and
the remedies applied as Il precaution
against further trouble.
We have spared neither time nor eN-
penSe in securing the services of the
best medical and sanitary experts III aid
ing us in tracing the cause and removing
the difficulties.
After a thorough investigation. We are
satisfied that We have located the cause.
1. We believe that the central we'll, us
ed to furnish water to the tables III the
dining room. as ShOwn by the bacterlolog-
lists analysis. to be the cause.
.. That a leaking plumbing connection
between the water closets and the main
sewer under the dining room annex Great
ed an ~unsanitary condition there and
may have contributed to the contamina-
ton of the we'll located about 125 feet
distant.
a thorough examination by ourselves
and the sanitary and medical experts fail
to fix any other cause, as lie entire
promises otherwise were found liz excel
lent sanitary condition.
The State board of health and the san
tary experts employed by us make the
following recommendations:
1. That the three wells near the col
lege buildings be filled and the city water
used.
>. That the entire sewerage SYSTEM be
inspected by competent engineers. and
any defects found be reHledied: that the
dirt adjacent to the leaking sewcr-pipes
under the dining room annex be removed
and the location thoroughly disinfected.
;. That all the buildings, rooms and
furniture be disinfected. the walls re
~calcimined, and inside wood work re
painted.
All of the above recommendations have
been carried out. or will ie tefore the
date of the opening. and submitted to the
State Board Of Health for inspection and
approval. and in addition thereto we are
putting i'll 4 plant to filter and stcrlliZc
the water to be used for drinking pur-
poses.
The mattresses have been burned. and
iron bedsteads placed in ali of the dormi-
tories in lieu of the wooden ones used.
The old bath tubs have been discarded.
and modern ones substituted. The water
closets have been re~-arranGed and the
whole premises overlIauled and placed
i'm first class sanitary condition.
All of the above work has been done
under the supervision and advice Of the
best experts, including the secretary,
the bacteriologist and the engineer of the
State Board of Health.
We feel safe in saying that the phvs;-
cal condition Of the institutions is as near
perfect as human skill can make it, and
the public need have no apprehension
of further trouble, and students can re
turn to their work with assurance that
full provision has been made for their
cnnfort and health.
In common with the people Of the en-
tire State the mcmber Of the board Of
directors have felt the deepest sympathy
for those among the patrons. relatives and
friends Of the college upon whom the
hand Of Iffiiction has fallen so heavily.
The course pursued by the President
and Faculty in all matters relating to the
epidemic has our thorough endorsement,
and We have never been better satisfied
with the work of those administering the
affairs Of the college. All who have taken
Z the pains to learn the facts as they oc-
CURED are unanimous i'll their praise of
the wisdom and affection displayed by
the entire management Of the institution.
C. II. MEBANE, President.
j. NJ. SPAI\HOUR. Secretary,
II. G. CHATHAM.
Il. u. GILMER.
w. ID. TURNER.
S. Nj. GATVTIS,
!. T.. FOWLER,
IA. BLAIR.
JOHN GRAHAM.