The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1895-05-03
IN HOT MUD.
An Albany Man Among Manv
Rheumatics.

BYRON Hor SPRINGS, Cal, April %, '95,
Editor Demec, at.
Maybe something that might say
would prove of interest to the read
ers oil the Democrat, and that is the eS.
cuse Tor writing this correspondence. ]
lett Albany on Monday, April Is, al
io;2o O'Clock p. m. and arrived at these
springs, Wednesday, April II, at So'clock
a. M, making the whole trip without
changing trains. 1t might be OF interes,
To say that the overland trains from Ore.
gon come to Sacramento, thence to Stock.
ton and on to Lathrop and thence on to
these springs, which are two miles from
the station known as Byron. Many peo-
pie come here to be cured of various dis
eases, but nine-tenths of these who are
here now are rheumatics. Some have
sciatica, some muscular and some in
fiammatory rheumatism. All here are
Catiiornians except about three. Two
are from Portland and one was from
Pendleton, but left few days ago with
out having received any relief. Poor
fellow, he suffered untold agonies. not
being able to sleep at night. Others ge.
some relief. The writer is pleased 20 say
that he has already been materially BEN
etitted and hopes to be cured. The treat
ment here consists in taking hot salt
water baths once day Tor some six or
eight days, as the nature of the case may
require. After which the treatment is
continued and completed with hot mud
bathing. Each patient is expected TO
bathe in the hot salt water for ten min
utes, Che writer very modestly extended
the time to fifteen or eighteen minutes,
to the great disgust of the Japanese batn
manager.) After bathing in the hot
water the patient is wrapped closely in
blankets, given quart bottle filed with
white sulphur water" and directed 10
drink IL freely. and many drink il all.
Notwithstanding ii has most disgust
Ing taste Here he is instructed To re-
main so minutes, but many Of Us extend
the time to forty and even fifty minutes.
To say that one perspires does not con-
yey very accurate idea OF the proiusion
OF water that escapes from the body.
Biankets will be quite wet, as though
dipped in stream. This may be better
understood when the fact is made known
that the temperature of the hot salt water
IS about ll5 degrees, and many patients
bathe in it when reduced only to ITO and
li2. mans flesh, (and woman's too,
we suppose, looks as ned as beefsteak
upon coming out of the water. After
coming out of the blankets one will
sweat from l5 to 20 minutes. The charge
for board and lodging. which includes ali
bathing privileges Except blanke;sl and
drinking the mineral waters, and advice
from the resident physician, is SIS to $50
per week They have great variety OF
springs, such as Liver and Kidney
Spring" Hot Salt Spring" BLACK SUI
phur Spring" I" white Sulphur Spring"
The Surprise Spring. Hot Mud
Spring" Iron Spring" etc. Since
came here the weather has becn most
beautiful and sunshiny. Thesc springs
are in the JoSquin valley, s. miles south
west OF Stockton in UontraTosta county.
q distance OF 6s5 miles by rail from Al
bany and 6s miles by rail east OF San
Francisco Hay harvest in these parts
is in full blast. People tell me the wheat
crop in this valley will be fairly good. As
the reader has already inferred, rheuma-
tlsm here is prevalent as in Oregon
Rheunatics are here from san jose, Tu-
lare, Napa, Sacramento, San Leanaro.
san Francisco and other parts and tell
the tale OF rheumatism. Just think OF
from so to 80 victims OF rheumatism al
together At one hotel. Imagine you see
them start single file down to the dining
room, through hall $50 feet long, aud
each one with his own peculiar limp. Poor
fellows, were il not so serious il would he
a most ludicrous scene. But the writer
always suppresses a smile when he secs
them Tor he has the most lively recollec.
ton OF recent experiences. But s
down thinking / would write half a coli
umn but here have drawn out to
{ o0lumn and must close.
z. J. STtTEs.