The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-14
BAD PLUMBING
Caused Epidemic of Fever at
Normal, Say Directors.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT
SAYS THE SANITARY CONDITION
ARE NOW EXCELLENT.
INSTITUTION WILL OPEN WITS DOORS JAN. 30
The People of Greensboro Assured the Direct
ors Of Their Interest in the Welfare Of tie
institution and Of Their Sympathy in
the Misfortune That BefeII II,

the Misfortune That BefeIl 1t.
Greensboro, n. c., Jan. f3.-(Special)
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 malarial 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
10 students, and decided that it was best
TO fix the date for Jan. Both. The report
of the Board, adopted after mature DELHI
Grafton. is III full as follows
OFFICIAL REPORT
The State Normal and Industrial Col
1ege, being a State institution, the pub
lie 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 al
their homes after the students left the
college
In view of the Te-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 ex-
pense in securing the services of the
best medical and sanitary experts in aid
ing us in tracing the cause and removing
the difficulties.
After a thorough investigation. we are
satisfied that we have located the cause.
l. We believe that the central well, us
ed to furnish water to the tables i'll the
dining room, as sh0wn by the bacteriolOg
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 msanitary condition there and
may have contributed to the contamina-
tion of the well located about 12J felt
distant.
A thorough examination by ourselves
and the sanitary and medical experts fail
to fix any other canse, as the entire
premises otherwise were found III excel
lent sanitary condition.
The State board of health and the SAM
tary experts employed by us make the
following recommendations:
/. That the three wells near the col
lege buildings be filled and the city water
used.
>. That the entire sewerage system bc
any defects found be remedied; that the
dirt adjacent to the leaking sewer-pipes
under the dining room annex be removed
and the location thoroughly diSinfected.
g. That all the buildings, rooms and
furniture be disinfected, the walls To-
calcimincd, and inside wood work re
painted.
All of the above recommendations have
been carried out, or will Le Lef0re the
date of the opening. and submitted to the
State Board of Health for inspection aud
approval, and i'll addition thereto we are
putting in a plant to filter and sterilize
the water to be used for drinking puf
poses.
The mattresses have been burned and
iron bedsteads placed in ali Of the dormi |
tories i'll 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 over-haulcd and placed !
in 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 bacteriolcgist and the engineer of the
State Board of Health. -
We feel safe i'll saying that the phys
cal condition of the institution is as near
perfect as human skill can make it. and
the public need have no apprehensiol;
of further trouble, and students can re-'
turn to their work with assurance that
full provision has been made for their
comfort and health.
In common with the people of the en-
tire State the members of the board 81
directors have felt the deepest sympathy
for those among the patrons, relatives and
friends of the college upon whom The
hand Of affiction 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
the pains to learn the facts as they oc-
Cured are unanimous in their praise OF
the wisdom and affection displayed b.
the entire management of the institution.
C. II. AIEBANE. President,
]. NJ. SPAINHOUR. Secretary.
II. G.. CHATHAM,
r. II. GILAIER
w ID. TURNER,
s. NJ. GATTIS,
]. f. FOWLER,
IT, A. BLAIR.
Holm GRAHAM