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Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7563, 30 May 1885, Page 4

“ Have you been to the hot springs ? ” That is the first question every tourist is asked who shows his face in New Zealand, Every tourist who answers “No,” and every individual, unfortunate enough to be suffering from some ailment, is at once told to go to the hot springs. As things of beauty, the springs, at least of the North Island, are joys sufficient to compensate for certainly as many days as the journey to see them requires. As curative agents, their reputation rests on an equally good basis. • But unless people take care, that basis will be destroyed. If that evil result ever should come to pass we shall owe it entirely to the practice of indiscriminate recommendation so much in vogue. A little book published by Dr (binders, the popular resident medical officer at Eotorua, deals with this question in a very effective aud wholesome manner, “ It unfortunately happens,” writes the Doctor, “that a number of invalids come every year to this district who ought never to have left their homes.” What a world of misery and disappointment, needless suffering and avoidable torture, is here compressed into a few words. The journey kills some who ought never to have left their beds, the waters kill others who ought never to have gone into them, there are ailments on which the waters have no effect at all, good, bad or indifferent. The doctor who introduces this terrible picture to the reading public admits that the therapeutic power of these springs is great, and will, as the results of experience and chemistry are added to our knowledge, become very much better known to the medical profession. But he declares most emphatically that there is a limit to their powers. Such a pronouncement seems at first sight superfluous, for surely common sense ought to prevent mistakes. But as common sense is not common enough to prevent mistakes, the paid penalty of which has been death or disease, the public should feel grateful for the warning. Doctor Ginders urges people to take medical advice before trying the waters: first as to whether there is enough vitality in their systems to stand the journey ; and, secondly, as to the chances there may be of benefit. Chronic skin diseases, gout, rheumatism, neuralgias, paralysis and catarrhs form the staple of the list of diseases in which benefit may be received from the waters. But there is a solemn warning, that in certain stages of some of these no good can be expected, and that there are even stages in which “ latent organic mischief unsuspected by the patient may make all the difference between safety and danger.” In publishing the very sensible advice of Dr Ginders —which is emphasised by instances of death, disease, disappointment, caused by the journey, or the unexpected result of bathing, or the want of all wished-for result—the Government has performed a good service to the public, which the public ought to be thankful for, and accept as its guide. By doing so invalids will avoid cost, disappointment, as well as save themselves from fatal danger. When invalids get to the Northern springs, they will find different pools set apart for different ailments. They will learn, too, that chemical chr.hges—for the observation of which by competent chemical analysis there might be better provision—are / constantly going on, altering the/ therapeutic value of the various waters.- In conclusion, we need only say two things. It is very

satisfactory to see the systematic way in which the valuable waters of the North are beginning to be treated; it will be very satisfactory when similar treatment is accorded to the healing waters of the Hanmer Plain.