General information regarding the Hot Springs of Arkansas.

  • United States. Department of the Interior.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: General information regarding the Hot Springs of Arkansas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    PHYSICIANS. The only physicians ^vho aiv. allowed to prescribe the waters of tlie hot si)rini]:s aie tlioso licensed j)ractitioners of tlie Stale of Arkan- sas who liave been examined by a Federal board of medical exam- ines appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. Visitors are warned that physicians wlio have not ])assed the Federal board and been registered in tlie superintendent's oflice, are not permitted to make use of the baths in the treatment of their patients. This rule is for the protection of visitoi-s who, if they desire the baths, should before employing a physician, jirocuro from the superintendent of the reservation a list of the qualified practitioners. Wliile the baths may be taken without the advice of a physician by procuring a permit at the office of the superintendent, tliis practice is not recommended. Patients who assume to tletermine the nature of their ailments, and to prescribe for themselves, often fail to obtain the desired rehef. The waters are not beneficial in all diseases and in some are harmful. It is a useless expenditure of time and money to take the baths for a disease that will not be benefited by them, and such procedure can only result in delaying proper treatment. Physicians' fees are from §25 a month up, accordmg to the treat- ment required. Visitors are advised for their own protection that soliciting for hotels, boarding houses, or doctors on the trains running into Hot Springs is in violation of law, and are warned against heeding the advice of irre- sponsible and unknown persons. In the interest of the public it has been found necessary to pro- hibit the batliing of anyone stopping at a hotel or boarding house in wliich the sohcitation of patronage for doctors is allowed. Such solicitation usually takes the form of advising the patient that the doctor to whom he has been recommended by a friend at home is out of town, but that Dr. X is as good a man and will treat him for less money. The drummer commonly poses as a greatly benefited and grateful patient of the doctor who employs him. Doctors who make use of agents to induce patients to take treatment from them usuaUy divide their fees with the solicitors or drummers. The moral responsibility of good citizenship demands that visitors should make knowni to the superintendent of the reservation any instance of soliciting for doctors, thus effectively aiding the depart- ment in eliminating an obnoxious practice, and insuring to themselves the full benefits of proper treatment at this resort. RAILROADS. The railroads running into Hot Springs are the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern. Through cars are operated from many of the larger cities. Detailed information can be obtained from local ticket agents. n