The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-03
NOTES on THE FAMOUS JAPANESE
CURATIVE WATERS.
Great Heat--C1nstitucnts May BE
Duplicated Here for Treatment of
Lepers-A Letter Replete in Details.

to having it manufactured here, was
brought from the famous springs in
Japan by DR.. Wood. 1t is proposed
by local physicians TO ascertain the
chemical properties of the water and
their proportions; and with the re-
quisite heat it is believed the Kusatsu
baths can be perfectly reproduced.
The waters of Kusatsu are specially
etfcacious in rheumatism, syphilis.
all skin diseases aud leprosy. Some
believe that by long application the
latter disease may be cured. The
chief constituents of the water are
mineral acids, sulphur, iron. alum
and arsenic. 4 high temperature ia
reached in the baths. ranging from
113 to 1873 degrees. In view of inves-
LEGATIONS made by DR.. Wood and Mr..
Smith while in Japan, they have Sc
cured from an authority statement
of expense, etc, of visiting the Kusa-
tsu Springs, for the benefit of the pub
lie of the Hawaiian islands. From tho
schedule the following cuttings are
made: ..........
'In accordance with your request of
date Aug. 4, | have the honor to for
ward the following notes, as complete
as | am able to make them at pres
foreign patient, while undergoing the
treatment at the springs of Kusatsu.
The cost will vary somewhat accord
ing to the season. July and August
are the months during which the
baths are most frequented. and one
going there during this period would
have to pay rather more for entertain
ment than earlier or later in the year.
J During the winter months stay at
Kusatsu would be difficult or impos-
sible for the average patient.
"Of course much depends upon the
requirements of "A given case as to ac.
commodations and food. The hotel,
which caters especially to foreign pat
ronage is comparatively expensive,
and, as it supplies neither food nor
proper attendance, it can scarcely be
said that there is any great advantage
in going to this house, except that the
European guest is not there thrown
! in close contact with the many dis
agreeable and often offensive native
patients. The price for rooms, at the
house just mentioned, depends almost
entirely on the special arrangement
made, but may be put down at from
75 cents to $1.50 (meaning silver) per
room, with absolutely necessary bed
ding. Rooms can be had at the pure
! ly native hotels at somewhat less,
but, in this case. n foreigner would
have to provide his own sheets, blank
cts, etc. | would, in fact, advise any
one going to Ksaatsu to take all need
full bedding with them, for obvious
reasons.
AT present, as it is neither pleas
ant nor healthful for n foreigner. es-
pecally when ailing, to attempt to live
upon Japanese food exclusively, il is
almost necessity that, in Kusatsu,
the European invalid should have his
own servant, who should have some
knowledge of cookery in foreign style.
The wages of suitable
servant would range from SIS to SIS
per month.
"The charges for the baths. and for
advice from the local physicians, who,
from long experience, have, perhaps,
the best knowledge of the application
of the waters, are included i'm the
hotel charges for rooms, and are
levied by the town authorities as an
almost nominal charge per capita. On
the whole | think that SIS (about $40
gold) is the lowest rate at which any
foreigner can live with decency at Ku-
satsu. and a somewhat higher estimate
is, perhaps, advisable in view of the
rise in prices that will, inevitably, take
place i'm direct proportion to the num-
ber of foreign guests seeking the ben
efits of the baths.
THE cost of travel from Yokohama
to Kusatsu is from $40 to SIS, accord
ing to the amount of baggage trans
ported, and the best route for the in
valid that by Karuizawa. After com
| pleting the usual course from six
weeks To two months at Kusatsu, a
stay of about week at the neighbor-
ing baths of Shibu is advisable in
order to cure the peculiar and, under
other treatment, most painful and
obstinate dermatitis caused by the
Kusatsu waters. The rate of expenses