Imagine a hotel where, instead of a courtesy continental breakfast and those mini shampoo and conditioners, you’re treated to a complimentary bout of infectious diarrhoea instead.

Welcome to the National Hotel in Washington DC, offering abdominal cramps, inflammation of the large intestine, a swollen tongue and violent D&V with every stay.

The eponymous home-away-from-home harboured this mysterious illness, known as ‘National Hotel disease’, in the 1850s, during which time hundreds of its visitors were infected and close to 40 killed, including multiple members of US Congress.

One of its most famous victims was President James Buchanan, who stayed there twice.