How "The Cure" is Taken in Europe

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

How "The Cure" is Taken in Europe

By DR. JOHN CAM. DUNCAN

creation and enjoyment. In this respect, walks through woods and gardens and first-class concerts, constitute part of the " cure." As one spa director explained to me: " People cannot be bathed, or have their bodies treated all the time: there must be periods of relaxation and entertainment." And after experiencing the pleasure "of such amenities, 1 realised how important it was to supplement the more serious forms of spa treatment. Many Patients Catered For Czechoslovakia is a country of spas. There are dozens of such health resorts where mineral water springs of varied chemical composition and potentialities abound; where they cater for patients suffering from a variety of complaints. The regime at these spas is very similar; though certain mineral water springs are indicated for individual complaints. A brief description of ono of these centres will give some idea of the scene and setting and the means of effecting a " cure." Carlsbad, or Karlovy Vary, as it is now called, is a town set in a winding valley through which a narrow river

clatters over a stony bed. The villas rise in terraces on the slopes of wooded hills and the streets, narrow and hedged by fashionable shoos and hotels, have all the lure of romantic adventure. Luxurious Bath Houses Hero, too, in the valley, arc the sprudel, or mineral water springs and, adjoining these " sources," the luxurious Hath and Treatment Houses. To the west, where the valley widens into open fields, parks, gardens and the elegant villas, make an ideal setting for alfresco restaurants. It was autumn when I was there and the larch, beech and birch-covered hills and the chestnut-studded parks and gardens made a mosaic of incredible colour. ' The real day commences about 7 a.m. with drinking the waters. This is an essential ceremony in the regime of taking the " cure." Along the Mulilbrunn, with its pillared colonnade of the Kurhaus, people of all nations, ages and appearance, armed with their spouted drinking cups, parade up and down, sipping the warm mineral waters, greeting friends and, quite probably, holding what we facetiously call " oryan recitals."

URING my recent tour of f J many of the important spas and clinics of Europe I was much impressed'by the completeness of their organisation and equipment, frothing is left undone which might contribute to the cure and well-being of the patient. In this respect, I found the spas'' of Czechoslovakia, 'Hungary and Germany all pursuing a policy/.of progressiveness and, in their methods, 1 found much food for enlightenment. Spa towns are' beautifully laid out ■frith 'parks, gardens and alfresco restaurants, and every scenic attraction js exploited to the best advantage. And is not only the physical needs which are catered for. The authorities in the. Centres realise the value of mental re- I

New Zealand Should Make Much More of Magnificent Natural Endowments "ROTORUA COULD BE THE FINEST SPA IN EXISTENCE"

The author of this article is balneologist in charge of spas in New Zealand. He returned recently from an extensive overseas tour, during which he inspected the principal Continental spas on behalf of the Government. France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, .Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada were visited by Dr. Duncan during the 10 months of his tour. Examinations were conducted at such famous places as Carlsbad, Pistany and Marienbad, and he was for some time working in the clinics of Professor von Pap, of Budapest, and Professor Lorenz, of Vienna, well-known balneologists.

The route of the procession is defined. Smoking during this serious hour is forbidden, and no traffic —except for a few bath chairs—is permitted to interfere with the pedestrian. From time to time individuals Jbreak away to get their cups refilled at the various sprudel, then rejoin the parade. At such times one is impressed by the fact that people are taking their cure seriously, and happily. Variety of Cafes After this, the crowds stroll away to their favourite alfresco cafes or gardens. There is an infinite variety to choose from. For the less active, the little awning-shaded places alongside the river; and for the more energetic, one of the larger gardens outside the town, or, by way of graded walks through the woods, to some hill-top restaurant where, seated at a little table in the sunshine, one can view the panorama of the lovely surrounding country. The first breakfast is a simple meal —tea or coffee, rolls and marmalade, and perhaps a boiled egg. This meal is always accompanied by the rustling of newspapers —and 1 have never seen so j many newspapers. Practically everyone has a copy, for papers are obtainable in every language of Europe. Later in the morning, the traffic toward the baths commences, and then, for two or three hours, the streets are comparatively quiet. There arc six bathing and treatment establishments and people have their favourite baths and attendants, or patronise establishments which have specialised forms of treatment. Careful Organisation Under the direction of the spa doctors (many of them are designated as Herr Professor) and carried out by skilled operators and attendants, the business of the "euro" is being effected. The Work is very carefully and seriously organised, and the most up-to-date apparatus, the most modern laboratories, are a sine qua noil. The range and completeness of their apparatus, the equipment of their laboratories —providing the means to do their work efficiently and thoroughly —filled me with envy. About 3.H0 in the afternoon, after an ample lunch and a succeeding siesta, the people appear again, moving toward the alfresco concerts in the Geyser Gardens or Richmond Park; or, if the weather is bad, to one of the magnificent concert halls in the town. Good music seems essential to these cosmopolitans who are taking the " cure " and, seated at one of the little tables under a shady tree or

brightly-coloured awning, one listens to the finest orchestras directed by famous European conductors. Seldom, except at the dansants at the Hotel Pup, does one hear jax./,. From Carlsbad there are lovely drives through the woods, along the winding valleys where rivers reflect the colours of larch, beech and silver birch. One Sunday afternoon I crossed the river to the industrial area where, along the river-bank, a country fair was being held. It was an amusing experience. Lines and squares of booths, merry-go-rounds, side shows and improvised restaurants, were thronged by country people, dressed in all the gay pageantry of their gala costumes. In the provision stalls fat geese were in evidence —gooso and dumplings is a national dish—and such an infinite variety of sausages. Friendly People It was all m'eat fun, and the people seemed happy. As a rule, the Czechs arc stolid people and their language too incomprehensible for my understanding; but they are friendly folk. That was my experience throughout Central Europe, the friendliness and courtesy of these people toward Britishers. Sometimes, visiting these European spas, it was inevitable that one should make comparisons with our own health resorts and one's country, generally. Naturally, Rotorua, To Aroha, and the other resorts of New Zealand came into one's mind, and I realised how' magnificent were our natural endowments, and how little we made of them. In Rotorua. not only do we have the finest mineral waters in the world, but we have an ideal altitude (960 feet above sea level): an equable climate with moro than the average of sunshine. Moreover, the township is set in beautiful surroundings with many unique scenic attractions and every facility for sport. 1 doubt whether there is any place in the world with such natural endowments. Far Behind Rivals As a spa, Rotorua is widely known and justly famous for its "cures," but as an up-to-date clinical centre, it is yet far behind its rivals in Europe. However, its deficiencies are remediable, and with a wise policy of expansion, and the necessary facilities for

progressive and up-to-date clinical work, I am sure that Rotorua could be the finest spa in existence. In Te Aroha, too, wo have a health centre which has not yet had its just meed of consideration. Its potable waters, in the treatment of digestive and other complaints, outrival the chalybeate waters of Vichy and other famous European health resorts, and now, with its recent increase of mineral waters, bathing, swimming and other therapeutic activities, should be part of a progressive scheme for placing the spas of our Dominion in the forefront of hydrological centres. Another fact which struck me forcibly during my tour of the European tourist and health resorts was the

charm of alfresco living. Everywhere I went, from Italy in the south, to the Scandinavian countries in the north, people lived as much as possible out-of-doors. Open-air Life Along the boulevards in the cities, in the park-like gardens of the spa centres, cafes, restaurants and concerts, set in the open-air created an atmosphere of friendliness and good cheer. Inevitably one thought of New Zealand, with its lovely settings and long spells of sunshine, and wondered why we had not instituted such pleasant conditions there. True, our cities with their narrow, restricted pavements, do not lend theni-

selves to such happy innovations, but in. llotorua, To Arolia and most of our tourist resorts, it ■would add considerably to their attractions if we adopted such a mode of living. Possibly the barriers of British habit and prejudice have prevented us from adopting jsucli "Continental habits," but I am sure if we lived more in the open-air and sunshine we would bo a healthier race. Also, in Europe, the spa townships are meticuloush' tidy and well organised, and every natural asset is oxploited in the creation of beauty: it is almost impossible to find an untidy corner in such centres. In Eotorua, we have a wealth of material to work on in the lakes, forests, and thermal phenomena around Whakarewarewa, Tikitere and other places. These have been utilised as places of tourist interest; but many of them are sadly lacking as beauty spots. Also, there is the unique interest of native life, something which is peculiarly indigenous to this country. The habits, customs and charms of this interesting race could be more attractively brought to the attention of visitors.