The New York herald - 1898-06-24 (4118552) — page 4
MARIENBAD.
A Watering Place at which are found the well-known Glaubersalt Waters, Material for Mud Baths rich in Iron, and the Strongest of
Pure Iron Waters. — Excellent Situation on Forest-covered Mountains. — Yearly Number of Visitors is 18,000, exclusive of Tourists passing through. — 1,000,000 Bottles of Mineral Water sold yearly.
Very few watering places on the Continent have the privilege of possessing so many and so various health resorts as Marienbad, and few of them are so favored as it is in the possession of the charms of which nature has been so prodigal. Here art has aided nature, and Marienbad is provided with all modern comforts and arrangements which the exacting visitor now expects to find in a modern watering place. The success Marienbad has met with is without example; it is one of the newest watering places (Marienbad began to be known as such in 1818), and is now the second of the more important places of cure in all the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Over 18,000 visitors come here every year from far and near, and more than a million bottles of the precious mineral waters are sent away every year to all parts of the world. But the advantage from a medical point of view of the Marienbad "cure" can never be over-estimated, neither is the variety of its treatments sufficiently known, and the invigorating hygienic influence which the place owes to its climatic conditions cannot be too highly treasured.
case appeared during the epidemics in 1832, 1866 and 1873. In the autumn of 1892, when so many people came here from Hamburg to escape from the terrible disease, no case was noticed.
j Marienbad has a railway station, and can be easily reached from the principal towns on the Continent. From Prague to Marienbad the express takes about 4 i
hours, from Vienna about 9 hours, from Berlin 9 hours, from Leipzig 6 hours, from Dresden about 8 hours, from Frankfurton-the-Main about 10 hours, from Hamburg about 18 hours and from Paris 28 I hours.
Yet comparatively few people know that here, on a small surface, the ground is rich in mineral waters entirely different in their composition ! And comparatively few know that Marienbad possesses the richest and strongest Glaubersalt-water springs, the names of which, Kreuzbrunnen and Ferdinandsbrunnen, are known to every medical man. Here, too, one finds a diphenol iron spring, the richest of its kind in Europe—the Ambrosiusbrunnen I Very few people appreciate the real importance of the Marienbad mud baths and of the mineral-holding mud, rich in iron, of which they are composed, which surpasses even the well known Franzensbader mud. And how few are aware that chemical analysis | shows that the Marienbad Glaubersalt- j waters surpass even those of the well-known Karlsbad springs and that they ought to ' be considered as "strengthened cold Karls- | bad waters." ,4 We will try to show, in a short sketch, | the remarkable advantages of Marienbad. |
T he town lies in the German part of West Bohemia, near to the Saxon and Bavarian mountain chain, 628 metres above ~ the sea level. It is situated in a deep ca valley, beautified by lovely walks and large 18 parks and surrounde^ by exquisite pine 18 tree forests. In these one can walk for H: hours through the well-planted prome- ea nades, which run from every point of the town. The view from the town forms a cai lovely picture, such as delights even the I toi most careless observer. It is difficult to I to
— NEW BATHS.
describe the deep impression caused by the idyllic beauty of the country round Marienbad.
The climate is the same as in the central part of Germany. The average barometric reading is 702.95mm., and the average temperature is 7.3deg. Cent. The configuration of the mountain gorge in which Marienbad lies is such that the rays of the midday sun fall directly on the town, while it is protected from the west, east and north winds by the surrounding forestcovered mountains. The pine-scented forest air contains an important quantity of ozone. There are no manufactories in the town or neighborhood, therefore no troublesome or prejudicial smoke or steam, and no noise to prevent absolute
repose being enjoyed. The flora bears the pre-alpine character.
The health of the population is excellent, thanks to the sanitary organisation, excellent sewerage, good water supply. It is owing to these factors that Marienbad has several times escaped epidemics that have devastated other places. The town seems to be particularly safe from cholera; no
MARIENBAD.
HABITATIONS.
| Our town counts more than 300 houses that are arranged for receiving strangers. Some of them are magnificent hotels with bath-chairs, electric light, splendid restaurants ; others are handsome buildings with charming rooms and all the comfort of 3, private house. Even the more modest houses offer high, airy and well-furnished rooms, with a splendid view on the fine park and the magnificent surrounding forests.
house, post, telegraph and telephone offices and other official departments.
One does not notice that one is in a town, one feels everywhere the free breath of nature. tho fivsh aiv of a country place.
During tho season one always can find j residence on the heights.
The prices differ according to the guest's demands, the situation and arrangement I of the house, and the time of the season. j In May and September one can find rooms !
for very reasonable prices. During the first half of June and the second half of July terms are moderate. In the height of the season—that is to say from the end of June to the beginning of August-the terms rise, though they are never any higher than in other Austrian towns.
For a person coming for the first time to Marienbad, it is better, if he or she has
not taken a house beforehand, to stop at a hotel and then to look for private lodgings. At the doors of the houses that are to let hangs a board with this inscription, Logis." House-letting agencies are not to be trusted. Before choosing a lodging one should read the official list of the prices charged, a copy of which can be found in every house.
.uoveJy place, friendly hosts, agreeable society. During my short but charming stay in Mariellbad everything contributed to bring me back to life"-this Goethe, who often came here for a "cure," wrote in 1821, and it is still true.
In Marienbad, during the season, the Austrian High Court of Justice holds its sittings. There is in the town a custom
CHURCHES.
[ There are in Marienbad Roman Catholic, ~ Evangelical and English churches, a Jewish temple and synagogue and, during the summei1,aRussian Orthodox service takes place.
I
In several restaurants the bills of fare are drawn up according to the Jewish ritual. j
DOCTORS.
Over thirty doctors practise in Marienbad during the season. Most of them during the winter months practise in the most important cities of Austria.
Single horse carriage : per hour in the morning', 80krs.; per hour in the afternoon, 1 florin 20 krs.
Double horse carriage : per hour in the morning, 1 florin 20 krs.; per hour in the afternoon, 2 florins.
Omnibuses also run to and from the station.
A "Krankenheim" (hospital) has been re-
- KREUZBRUNNEN.
cently built on the model of the Eppendorfer Krankenhaus, near Hamburg, and there is also an English Hutton's hospital, which is excellently organized and comfortably fitted up, where sick visitors can be taken care of.
The excellent and artistic music of the Brunnen orchestra provides entertainment for visitors. It gives three concerts daily: in the morning and at night at the Kteuzbrunnen and in the afternoon at the Waldquelle. There is also a fine theatre, where performances are given daily. The "Cur Club" also organizes concerts, reunions, tombolas, &c. In the "tttadthaus" is a reading-room, in which visitors may read newspapers from all parts of the world. No charge is made
j for this. In the "Cursaal" musical even- . ings and dances are arranged for the visi- I | tors, .where they may listen to the lovely 1 Austrian military orchestra. In the neighborhood of the town good shooting and fishing may be had. Marienbad also has a bicycle and riding club—in fact, everything is done for the pleasure of sport-loving visitors. One of the most
popular places of rendezvous in the handsome Kreuzbrunnen Colonnade, which at night is splendidly illuminated by electric light. Two book and music stores and a circulating library provide for the intellectual wants of visitors.
In the suburbs and surroundings of Marienbad are many beautiful walks and excursions. Well planted roads lead
through the forests and fields to points from which lovely scenery may be seen; among these are the baths and castle of Konigswart, with its celebrated museum, Bad Sengerberg, Jagdschloss Glatzen, Stift Tepl, the very interesting Padhomberg, the Park in Plan, and the beautiful Josephhiitte. These make charming excursions by carriage and train. There are numerous carriages for hire at moderate prices. The tariff is as follows: —
MEANS USED FOR TREATMENT
I 1 tie springs in Marienbad are divided into j three groups : —
kteel baths (Ambrosius and Karolinenquelle).
3.—Moor baths (mud baths).
4.—Gas baths (carbolic acid from the Marienquelle).
5.-btealn baths.
6- Hot air baths (Roman baths). 7,-Cold water cure.
The following is on the list of the principal diseases cured by means of Marienbad springs and baths : —
I.—General Diseases.
Obesity, Gout, Diabetes, Anaemia, Scrofula.
II.—Organic Diseases.
Constipation, Stomach Catarrh, Dyspepsia, Cardialgia, Distension of the Stomach, Chronic Intestinal Catarrh, Hyperemia of the Liver, Distension of the Liver, Hemorrhoids, Plethora Abdominalis, Stagnation of the Blood in the lower parts, Catarrhal Jaundice, Liver and Spleen Tumors, Growth Fever.
I- The Glaubersalt springs.
I n.-The mineral springs.
III,-The iron waters.
The most important springs are : The KREUZBRUNNEN and FERDIX.
AN DSBRUN NEN, the ALEXANDRINEN. QUELLE, the AMBROSIUS and KARO- LINENBRUNNEN, the RUDOLFS-" QUELLE and the MARIENQUELLE.
The principal bathing establishments are: The CENTRALBAD, built in 1892;the MOORBADEHAUS, the cold water establishment for gentlemen ; the NEUBAD.
" Marienbad possesses bathing establishments that are unrivalled for their beauty and opulence." That is what the celebrated art-historian Professor Dr. Karl von Lutzow writes about these beautiful buildings.
The baths used here are the follow'ng: — ACID baths (MarienqueIIe and FerI dillandsbrullnen Water).
Diseases of the Respiratory and of the Circulatory Organs.
Chronic Catarrh of the Lungs, Habitus Apoplecticus, Diseases of the Urinary Organs -of feminine diseases, Nervous Diseases, Ischias, Rheumatisms.
The season in Marienbad lasts from the 1st of May till the 30th of September. During this period the orchestra plays three times daily in the neighborhood of the most frequented springs.
The "cure" tax and music-tax, which every guest staying over eight days must pay, is divided into three classes:
I CLASS I. -"Cure" tax for one person,
10 florins; music tax for one person, <5 florins ; for two persons 8 florins ; for three persons, 11 florins; for four persons, 14 florins ; for five and more, 17 florins.
CLASS II.—"Cure" tax for one person, 6 florins ; music tax : one person, 4 florins ; two persons, 5 florins; three persons, 6 florins; four persons, 7 florins; five and more, 8 florins.
CLASS III.—"Cure" tax for one person, 4 florins ; music tax : one person, 2 florins ; two persons, 3 florins; three persons, 4 florins; four persons, 5 florins; five and more, 6 florins.
Officers of the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian army, Austro-Hungarian Government empJoyés and all doctors and surgeons are exempt from the "cure" tax.