HOT SPRINGS Analyses of the Waters of The Hot Springs of Arkansas Geological Sketch of Hot Springs, Arkansas

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE WATERS OF THE HOT SPRINGS OF ARKANSAS.

The curative effects of thermal waters are undoubtedly due, to a large extent, to their stimulating effects on the excretory organs of the skin and the kidneys. To fully understand this we have only to examine the routine through which a patient passes at these thermal resorts. The pores are first thoroughly opened and sweating begun by immersing the patient in hot water for from 3 to 10 minutes. The patient is then placed in the steaming room for about 5 minutes and at the same time drinks copiously of hot water. This treatment, of course, produces a profuse perspiration. After this the patient is wrapped in blankets and passed on to a warm room for 20 to 30 minutes, where the perspiration runs off in streams. After this the patient is rubbed down and allowed to dress. A desire to urinate soon comes. Thus we see that the system is thoroughly flooded with water and washed out each day, and that tissue changes take place with wonderful rapidity. It is no wonder then that uric acid, syphilitic poisons, other materials of disease, and mercurial and other metallic poisons are soon eliminated from the system. With such effects as those mentioned above, hot baths then must be of value in the treatment of rheumatism, gout, syphilis, neuralgia, etc.