“Marina-Trinkkur” and a few more modern-time hydrotherapeutic myths from the Kvarner region of NW Croatia

Abstract

Purpose. The present paper tries to address the rise and decay of the sea-water “cult” in regional health tourism in NW Croatia, concentrating upon and analysing more thoroughly the example of Marina, chemicaly processed sea water, an invention of Dr Géza Fodor, the Hungarian physician practicing in that part of Croatia.

Method. The original documents and archived items related to the topic were examined. Furthermore, we investigated numerous comunal bulletins and medical authorities' records of respective time.

Results. Our research showed that the sea-water baths, introduced thanks to the influence of balneologists (like J. Glax), and “drinking cures” (advocated by M.-J. Örtel, for instance) were surprisingly popular not only among tourists of the time, but also among the physicians that used them extensively for therapeutical purposes. These baths and “drinking cures” enriched and completed the medical offer of the resorts regardless of their sometimes dubious effectiveness.

Conclusions. This simple distilled sea-water preparation, advertised as a real panacea, demonstrates a paradigm that elucidates the mentality of physicians, merchants, and patients/consumers of the time.

Keywords:

• History of medicine
• health resorts
• hydrotherapy
• balneology
• baths