The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-28
POOR OF PORTO RICO
UNDER THE RULE OF SPAIN THEY
HAVE BEEN HALF
STARVED
FOOD FREE FROM DUTIES
Native Physician, Educated in tho
United States, who Has Made the
Subject a Study, Submits Some
Pertinent Suggestions to Gen.
Brooke - Meat Diet Needed to
Regenerate the Lower Class.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, Nov. IT,
DR.. Amadeo, a Porto Rican, who has
passed much Of his time in the United
States, recently made a study of the
foods Of the poorer classes OF his coun-
trymen and has embodied some of the
results Of his labors in an open letter
to Maj. Gen. Brooke. His statements
have the ring Of fact, and they are in
teresting in that they give an idea of
what the island laborer is and what
can fairly be expected of him as citi-
zen OF the United States. In the course
Of his letter. DR.. Amadeo said;
Five years ago, upon my return
from the United States, 1 began to
make certain comparisons between the
poor Of Porto Rico and the poorer
classes among the Americans. I noted
physical inferiority among the Porto
Ricans. The blame for this should be
laid at SPANS door, for she. by reason
of excessive duties on the necessaries
of life. always prevented the poor
man here from obtaining proper nour-
ishment.
The science Of nourishment shows
us that man. in order TO maintain
his health, should consume daily about
124 grammes Of nitrogen matter 40
grammes OF matter containing starch
and $50 grammes OF matter containing
grease. Hence the indispensabflity Of
meat. But a laborer OF Porto Rico
lives on carbon and nitrogen alone.
Meat is a luxury very rarely tasted
This largely explains the condition
Of the laboring classes in Porto Rico.
the muscular system wasting away
from defective nourishment and the
brain inactive and dull because de-
prived Of phosphates. Moreover, ex-
elusive nourishment OF this kind en-
genders severe organic troubles in the
end A dangerous and common disease
Of the liver is the direct result among
our people of diet of tubers and ba-
nanas.
I'VE cannot expect from men on such
diet that degree Of intelligence and ac-
tivity which would be found in men
properly nurtured. I am a country
physician. and when my patients come
10 me for relief from their many in
armities I am obliged to say TO them:
You do not need drugs and medicines.
but you do need meat and fish and
foods These are very i'm
portant facts to us. and we sincerely
hope, as a source of possible relief
that Gen Brooke will do all in his
power TO secure the admission into this
island free from all customs duties of
sailed fish and meats from the United
States. and Of rice and -four.
ITO the man who works for so cents
silver a day we should try to give a
him proper nourishment. I believe the
of this island should be-
gin by restoring the health of it's peo-
pie. Surely 1t would be a pity if the
inhabitants of a part of the rich Amer
lean Union should be without proper
Such state OF affairs
was comprehensive under the Spanish
regime. but 1t would be hard indeed
to understand under the control of a
government whose first principle is to
care for its people. as in Porto Rico
care for the people resolves itself now
into their proper nouTishment.
"A majority of the Porto Ricans are
Of European extraction They cannot
support life In roof1egs huts and in the
open woods as can the black races OF
Africa. We should make II possible for
them to obtain shelter and homes. at
least as good as those Of their fore
fathers. This could be done by per-
hitting the entrance. free from all re-
strictions and duties, of the component
parts of simple houses, such as boards
joists, iron roofing and nails
Il consider these recommendation
which I venture to submit. to be OF
prime necessity for the coed Of the peo-
pie. Human demands their adop-
ton The poorer classes in Porto Rico
cannot be expected 10 appreciate their
obligations to the United States, much
less to fulfill inteliigently the duties Of
American citizens. because their en-
feebled mental and physical conditions,
the direct result of malnUtrition, make
this impossible to them. We shall pro-
coed with the work OF social recon
StruCtiOn of this island. but in order
u have healthy minds 10 work upon
we must first secure healthy bodies
But we cannot look for healthy bodies
in a country where excessive tariffs
WCu id continue to prevent the poorer
classes from eating meat and bread
and compel them to resort Cor sus-
tenance to roots and bananas"
A scheme of this kind that meets
approval among the greatest number
concerned, is a system Of tariff rates
that viii put the slightest burden on
the people. while keeping them high
ereugh TO provide money for island
improvements. Those who favor this
idea thoroughly realize the advantages
Of free trade. but they also perceive
Il would be a good thing for Porto Rico
were she to paw all the expenses Of
her improvements and to appear upon
h. .r.l- - r1..sv7