How the White House Killed Two Presidents

William Henry Harrison, the shortest-serving U.S. President, died 32 days into his term in 1841. Initially thought to have died from pneumonia due to a lengthy inaugural address in cold weather, modern analysis suggests enteric fever from contaminated water was the cause. Symptoms like severe constipation and anxiety, along with the timing of his illness, challenge the pneumonia diagnosis. The White House's water source was near a waste dumping ground, likely spreading salmonella. Other presidents of the era also suffered similar illnesses, highlighting the unsanitary conditions of the time.

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