12 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Jan., 



least twice that proportion. This large percentage indi- 

 cated at once that there must have been some extremely 

 virulent source of infection to which probably every 

 member of the fraternities was subjected. In no other 

 way could the large percentage of cases among the 

 students be accounted for. 



In the attempt to locate the source of the trouble in 

 connection with the three fraternities, however, every 

 source of possible contagion was investigated. The 

 plumbing was examined, and though found to be defec- 

 tive in at least one case, in the other houses it was in 

 first class condition. Of course it was hardly possible to 

 accuse the plumbing, however, inasmuch as the three 

 clubs afflicted were situated at a distance of half a mile 

 from each other and were connected with different 

 sewers. The probability that these three houses should 

 have been defective in their plumbing at the same time 

 was very remote and their connection with different 

 sewers, together with the absence of typhoid from the 

 city made it impossible to accuse the plumbing. The 

 possibility of transference of the disease from house to 

 house was also considered, an attempt being made to 

 find some early case which could possibly have been a 

 source of infection to the other houses. But this proved 

 futile. There were no early cases, for almost at once, 

 upon October 20th, two or three cases developed simul- 

 taneously and, of course, this made it impossible to ex- 

 plain the epidemic by personal contagion. It was found, 

 moreover, that the students who were taken with the 

 disease in many cases had no connection whatsoever with 

 the other fraternity houses, either through their room- 

 mates or otherwise. Another source of possible infection 

 was suggested in a lot of new foot ball suits wnich had 

 recently been purchased, and which had been thought to 

 have given rise to one or two cases of blood poisoning. 

 Inquiry, however, soon showed that most of the students 



