How did we survive part I

    In an old bath house in Hot Springs, Arkansas there remains a tribute to ancient medicinal remedies, namely, mercury rubbing. Ludicrous today of course, along with the apparently then-popular treatment of delivering electro-shockwaves into your bath, odd spa practices were actually conducted less than a century ago. 
     Makes you wonder which questionable practices will cause the generation a century from now to roll their eyes. 
     But aside from the potential electrocution and poisoning hazards,

the bath houses that harnessed the healing power of the hot springs were actually quite well designed: systems which allowed the water to flow effortlessly down the mountains into an intricate system of pipes and valves, filling tubs and pools and drawing ailing bodies from around the nation.

    Now Historic Hot Springs draws tourists who may just want a peek into simpler times - like when mercury rubbings were $0.50 for a single rub. Try finding that at your local spa.