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[Letter from Charles McIver to students about typhoid epidemic]

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Title	[Letter from Charles McIver to students about typhoid epidemic]
Date	1899-12-15
Creator	McIver, Charles Duncan, 1860-1906
Subject headings	University of North Carolina at Greensboro McIver, Charles Duncan, 1860-1906
Topics	Teachers UNCG
Description	This letter from North Carolina State Normal and Industrial College President Charles D. McIver to students details two wells that were contaminated and were the probable cause of a typhoid outbreak. He goes on to say which dormitories were affected and that the children of the Practice School were unharmed. " He then writes that "regardless of trouble or expense" the wells, dirt, and dormitories will be covered, removed, or completely cleaned and renovated. School will be postponed until further notice but the school will open as soon as possible. " He states that he has received much support from the student body that the students want to return and have even received new applications. He then directs the students to fill out the survey about their intentions to return in January.
Type	Text
Original format	Correspondence
Original publisher	[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified]
Contributing institution	Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries
Source collection	UA2.1 Charles Duncan McIver Records, 1855-1906
Series/grouping	2.1: State Normal Records/Correspondence
Finding aid link	http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/university_archives/html/2_1.htm
Rights statement	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Additional rights information	NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES. This item has been determined to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. The user is responsible for determining actual copyright status for any reuse of the material.
Object ID	UA002.1.008
Digital publisher	The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170, 336.334.5304
Transcript	THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE . This letter is sent to give to students as definite infor111ation as possible in regard to the re-opening of the College . It is settled beyond question that the central well, situated between the main college building and the brick dormitory is infected, as stated in Dr. Lewis' report, a copy of which has been sent to each student and forn1er student. This well is not only condemed by the bacteriologist of the State Board of Health, but also by' an eminent authority of national reputation to whom several samples of water were sent . While the reports indicate that the water in the well at the Teague dormitory is less seriously infected, yet that well is condemned by both reports. Both reports also indicate, that there is no infection in the well at the "wooden dormitory, which will account for the fact that the epidemic did not extend to the children attending the Practice School, to the members of the President's household, or to those who drank the water in the main college building, which has been supplied this year almost entirely from the well at the wooden dormitory. The infected wells and the well at the wooden dormitory will be filled, and the city "water, which, after several tests, has been pronounced harmless, will be filtered and used in the college building and in the dormitories . Out of abundance of caution, regardless of trouble or expense, the most effective means known to science or suggested by common sense a~d experience will be employed to remove every other probable or possible cause of danger. All the buildings will be fumigated from cellar to garret with formaldehyde, the most powerful germicide known; all the wood-work will be thoroughly scoured and repainted; all the walls will be calcimined; all the mattresses belonging to the institution will be burned; the infected earth about the leaking sewer connection will be removed, and the entire system of sewerage, including the plumbing, "'Till be thoroughly inspected by an expert and any defects that may be found will be remedied . Our students will not be invited to return until all these preparations shall have been completed, and until the ten sick students now here shall have recovered or shall have become entirely convalescent . These preparations for the re-opening of the State Normal and Industrial College will be pushed to completion as rapidly as possible, but it is now evident that the date of re-opening must be postponed beyond the second of January. As early as possible in the month of January, however, the College work will be resumed, and you will be given due notice of the exact date in ample time to make preparations for your return . Every mail brings assurances from our students of their intention to return promptly, and a number of new applications have been received. I have been deeply touched and encouraged by this and other evidences of confidence, love, and loyal Support from the students, and there is every reason to expect a large attendance at the re-opening in January . It is necessary for me to know as soon as practicable how many places in the dormitories will be held and how many will be given up. If you know that you will return, please notify Ole at once. If you know that you will not return, please notify me at once. If you are doubtful about returning, please write to me and say so. Such notice may be given by your answer to question 7 on the enclosed sheet . CHARLES D. McIVER , President . Greensboro, N.C., December 15, 1899.
OCLC number	872132452

[Letter from Charles McIver to students about typhoid epidemic]

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