Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-20
RIIS TALKS OF
PLAGUE AND CURE

Jacob Riis, who ex-President Roosevelt
once said was the most useful American.
spent Thursday and Thursday night in
Atlanta. He lectured at night at the
Temple on South Pryor street. During
the day he spent most Of his time at tfS
Anti-Tuberculosis exhibit in which he
takes a profound interest
In fact. in an interview which he gave
out Thursday, Mr.. Riis gave most ef his
talk to the prevention OF consumption.
and comparatively little OF 1t to ex-Fresl-
dent Roosevelt, although he quoted MI.
Roosevelt from time to time, ana said
as was inevitable-that he was the great
est president since Lincoln. 1t was not his
fortune to see Mr.. Roosevelt on the eve
of his departure to Africa, he said.
Mr. Riis was most interested in the
statistics of the state of Kentucky, which
were shown at the exhibit. There were
70 900 unnecessary deaths there last year.
of this number only 81 were murders,
which Mr. Riis considered remarkable
considering the states reputation for
feuds. Half of the number, or over 5000,
were from consumption.
I'm New York." said Mr.. Riis, we
have 10000 deaths year from consump-
ton, and probably 10000 who are dying
from ii. There are, or were before the
new building laws went into effect, $4,000
dark rooms in New York city-S6l, 600
rooms without light and without air.
THE Neapolitans were the first to dis
cover that consumption was contagious.
They had no scientific way to determine
this fact ITO or lis years ago but Ma
pies had become a resort for people so af-
fiicted. The city became so congested with
consumptives that the expression origina-
ted, See Naples and die
Finally the disease spread so that the
authorities made laws. Landlords who
had consumptive tenants were compelled
to burn their furniture, and in extreme
cases their houses. The landlord who
objected was banished. In ten years Ma
pies became free of the disease.
This action is remarkable. considering
that Il happened over a century ago, and
among people we call dagoes. Our wes-
tern democracy is on trial today against
this action of Italy over a century ago.
Mr. Riis said that the old superstition
that consumption was necessarily hered-
itary was no longer believed, although
he admitted that persons with consump-
tive parents were more receptive to the
disease than others. He told of how the
disease used to be treated, when pa
tients would put a piece of black silk
over their mouths to keep out the air, &
treatment that was as fatal as the dis
ease.
He said that California had practically
adopted A bill which gave condemned
nu-derers the alternative of allowing
the -nselves to be experimental on in the
interests Of the cure of tuberculosis 'Once
they had gone through the treatment the
governor would reprive them.
Mr. Riis spoke of the Red Cross stamp.
of which he is the father. and how il.
Denmark. his native country. they have &
sartarium for the treatment of tubercu
lar children. Mr.. Riis considered that
in twenty years consumption would be
regarded like smallpox, and would be as
rare.
NO. I haven't seen Mr.. Roosevelt
since last fall" said Mr.. Riis. Il 61dn1
sec him on the eve of his trip to At
r.ca, but 1 know he is taking care OF
himself
What do ! think of him? He is the
greatest president, in many respects,
Stree Lincoln. His influence was partic-
ularly fine on the young men of the ma
ton. Everywhere I go. l recognize that
influence"