DR WHITTON AT BATH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10573, 30 September 1910, Page 6

DR WHITTON AT BATH.

AYriting from London on July 31, Dr AYhitton describes a visit paid by the British Sledicnl Association to the ancient city of Bath. The members journeyed bv special tram from J,ondoit and most of them wore accompanied bv their wives and daughters. As fhev walked with grave mien ami in ! •■■oher garments to- the Guildhall,, tuey were ■objects of considerable curiosity to the inhabitants of the ancient anil renowned citv of .Until. At Hie Gmld-h.-iil thev were entertained right rovally tii luncheon in t!ie very ornamental reception room. "In a happy speech." writes l)v Whittoii, "t!fo Aiavhr' welcomed so many men of the heajlfng iirt to their town, and said that he felt convinced that when they had seen the mineral springs, which are now known to contain radium in considerable quantity—which indeed is said to be the basis oj'" their medicinal virtues —also the menv "magnificent modern bath-rooms, replete with every convenience for me treatment of such diseases as sciatica, rheumatism, and gout, lie thought, after the medical men had o>:auiinect .id these, they would bo convinced that there was no necessity to send their patients to expensive foreign watering places, when liiev could have the treatment carried out as efficaciously in ■■their own country. "The guests were then driven about, tho town and shown the many interesting relics of the Roman occupation. Their attention was, however, particularly diroeied to the old Roman bath still in existence. This is circular in shape, similar i.o the. swimming batii at llaumer, and the. stone, forming its margin is said to be the identical .stone put'down by the Romans. A leaden pipe about •_'! inches in diameter, still in situ, was shown, and the visitors were, told that it was the original pipe conveying the warm water from the hot spring to the hath. The stone was old ami corroded, but ihero wen- inscriptions engraved upon it in the Latin tongue, which went lar to convince one that the statements made about it were true. The visitors wero also shown the pump room, where the fashionables, of the reigns of the early Georges_ were wont to congregate ami hold levies ol their followers "and admirers. Here Sheridan and Lean -Vash held sway. Visits Mere made to the various baths, which are verv elaborately constructed, having tiled walls and floors, with elaborate conveniences for lowering crippled patients gently into the healing liuui. fee-vera I patients \\ ere i<; be seen undergoing the treatment, being subjected to tho action both of the mineralised hot water and massage at the same time. Lath-, wero also" shown wheieby the patient could be .subjected over the i ntire body to the action of hot air. the temperature being raised sometimes to a height of J(!() degrees f. In those baths they only remain, for 20 minutes. There, were al.-o to lie .seen baths for the eyes, and a steam spray constantly in action for alfections of the throat. If any criticism of these baths wet-'' to be offered, might one who is familiar with both the baths, of Hanmer and Lotorun be permitted to say that in Lotorua Xew Zealandcrs possess baths of more powerful and varied medicinal value, the waters of Bath being lacking both in the. natural heat and strength of our own waters. .Nevertheless tile thermal in.-l notions of Bath are. wonderfully interesting, not only for the very i iaborate character of their medical appliances but for the historic interest attached to them. ""When driving round the old city the visitors were shown a famous crescent of houses, each of which was three storeys high. and. was supported by three tiers of columns, the lowest of which was Doric, the next lonic, and the highest one Corinthian. In the palmy days of Bath those- houses wore leased to visitors, one of the conditions being that every lessee should keep a coach and four horses! Bath presents couHdet.iblo interest to an Oaniaruvian, as most of the houses are built of stone, greatly resembling that of which the White Stone City is built, it is raised from its quarries in the same way witJi circular saws, has the same white appearance, and has the familiar characteristic of assuming a grey and venerable appearance when the building lias been erected for any considerable time. Bath lies in a 'hollow surrounded by low hills, its situation shelters it from cold winds, while, the sun's rays are concentrated, so that this renowned .health resort, is warm and sunny, whilst many less favored towns are swept in winter and early springby bleak winds. On this account Bath is a favorite winter resort for delicate people, whose chests are not strong enough to bear the fogs and depressing sunless influence of London in winter.''