FEATURE
Figure 2. A listing of minerals present in one of the wells in Dawson Springs
and the conditions for which those minerals were believed to be benefit. This is
reprinted from page three of a pamphlet entitled “A Souvenir Album of Dawson
Springs: The Health Paradise [9].” The same table also appeared on page 15 of an
advertisement pamphlet published by the Illinois Central Railroad in 1911 entitled
“Dawson Springs: Kentucky’s Renowned Health and Pleasure Resort [5].” These
pamphlets were provided by the Dawson Springs Museum and Art Center, 320
East Rosedale Lane, Dawson Springs, Kentucky, 42408.
Figure 1. Advertisement from Journal of the American Medical
Association from 1904 suggesting that Buffalo Lithia Springs
water is a potential treatment for “fevers, malaria, ...and atypi-
cal typhoid” (top panel) as well as a wide range of issues caused
by gout (bottom panel).
Figure 5. Mineral content expressed as grains/US gallon from
the four Arcadia Hotel wells. Note that well number four is the
only one that has any appreciable lithium content [5].
Figure 3. An advertisement for the Dawson Salts and Water Company, which
marketed straight, carbonated and concentrated water from the Arcadia well
number four (Hamby’s original well). Note that the advertisement claims that
“This is the only water in the world that cures Bright’s disease” [renal failure]
(Tabor, 1903) [1]. This pamphlet was provided by the Dawson Springs Museum
and Art Center, 320 East Rosedale Lane, Dawson Springs, Kentucky, 42408.
Figure 4. A bottle label from the early 1900s for Dawson Springs water from
well number four on the grounds of the Arcadia hotel. This was the only well
that had any appreciable levels of lithium, and, consequently, the only viable
commercial source for direct-to-consumer sales. The label was provided by
the Dawson Springs Museum and Art Center, 320 East Rosedale Lane, Dawson
Springs, Kentucky, 42408.
MARCH 2019
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