Year: 1873

Writing to the Missouri Democrat,
a correspondent from the Hot Springs,
in Arkansas, gives this interesting
glimpse of the place No place, I be-
lieve, on the American Continent offers
to the afflicted more speedy relief for
many of the ills to which flesh is heir
than Hot Springs, as the rapidly-in-
creasing numbers which yearly congre-
gate at this place clearly testify. The
valley in which the town is situated is
entered at the south, and extends near.
ly due north about half mile, on the
east and west of which, as well as at its
northern terminus, are spurs of the
Hot Springs Mountains, rising to the
height of about four hundred feetabove
the level of the valley, and covered
with dense forest of pine, oak and
cedar. The valley is s ,mewhat in the
shape of wedge, gradually diminish


ing until it reaches the mountains on
the north side, where it is not more
than 100 feet wide. There is but one
regularly laid out street in the place,
which occupies the center of the valley
from one end to the other, on each side
of which are the various hotels and
business houses of the town. Com
mencing at the head of the valley and
traversing its entire length is a clear,
beautifully meandering mountain stream
of twenty to thirty feet in width, near
ly walled with stone to eonfine its cur
rent, and spanned at intervals withsub-


stantial foot-bridges, thus affording WIS.,
itors and all others an easy access of
any portion of the place. Along the
banks of the stream, at G base of the
east-side mountain, are erected nu-
merous neat and substantial bath
houses. In the rear of which are large
tanks supplied with hot water by means
of wooden troughs, cens eyed from near
the summit of the mountain. From
the tanks the water is carried to the


bathrooms by smaller pipes, and the
| temperature reduced to suit the physl-
cal condition of the patient using it.
All the water which comes from the
mountain on the east side is hot, while
all from that on the west side is cold.
The natural temperature of the hot
springs there are ffty-six by actual sur
vey, varying in their degrees of temper
ature from SO to los, the hottest one
being about midway between the base
and summit of the mountain, and Will
cook an egg in fifteen minutes. The
evidence of volcanic eruptions are visi-
BILE on every hand, from the assures
made by which the hot water flows rap
idly and abundantly, the volume per
minute being 334 gallons, or 480, 800
gallons in "a hours. When an invalid


arrives here, the first thing done is to
consult a physician to ascertain the
treatment necessary for the case, after
after which rigid system must be
strictly adhered to in order to obtain


the desired benefit. Stimulants of all


kinds are positively forbidden while


under treatment. OF the various af-


fiictions for which these waters are re-
garded as an almost infallible specific,


none are more readily and permanently


cured than rheumatism, as numbers


who have recovered can fully testify.


The length of time necessary to remain
here for the cure of any disease or al


fiction is determined always by the


magnitude of the case. The first treat


ment usually embraces twenty-one


baths, taken daily, when, if cure is
not effected, and the patient not too


greatly reduced, they are, after short
interval, renewed, and o like number
taken as at first. If, after the forty
second bath no cure is effected, the wa
ter said to have no power over the dis
ease, and the patient goes home, per-