National Hotel disease

[1] New cases of the illness began to decrease in number by the end of January 1857 and continued to abate until mid-February.

[1] In the 21st century, medical experts attribute the outbreak to "dysentery because of the hotel’s primitive sewage system.

"[6] The National Hotel epidemic manifested itself as a persistent diarrhea, which was often accompanied by an intense colic.

Major George McNeir, 64, of Washington, D.C., dined at the National Hotel during the first outbreak of the epidemic.

[8] The Mayor of Washington, D.C., together with a committee chosen by the board of health, submitted a report that denied that any mineral poisoning was ingested in the stomachs of victims of the epidemic.

The committee contended that the disease was transmitted by inhalation of a poisonous miasma, which originated from the decomposition of vegetables and animals.

Through the opening proceeded a constant fetid gas, which was coming in rapidly enough to extinguish a candle flame, according to the individual's estimation.