THE HEALING WATERS OF DAWSON SPRINGS, KENTUCKY

In the late 1800s, Dawson Springs, Kentucky, was a medical tourism destination due to the mineral content of the wells. The destination was advertised heavily by the Illinois Central Railroad, which served the town. Further marketing was achieved by changing the original name of the town, Dawson, to the much more poetic Dawson Springs -- even though there are no springs at Dawson. Drinking Dawson Springs water was advertised to "heal" indigestion, stomach problems, inactive liver, bladder and kidney problems, female irregularities, rheumatoid problems, dropsy, rheumatism, dyspepsia, nervous debility, and hemorrhoids. It was also advertised to be the only water to cure renal failure. Water from Dawson Springs was bottled, concentrated, and carbonated. Several hotels were established in the town to house all the medical tourists that arrived to take advantage of these waters. The town was the base of way more physicians that was needed for the 2000 permanent residents. Pharmacies were profitable, and Dawson Springs also spawned a pharmaceutical company, the Dawson Pharmal Company, which incorporated in 1904 to manufacture Scott’s Iodoform Emulsion -- a treatment for gastrointestinal distress. At the turn of century from the 1800s to the 1900s, mineral waters were touted as having healing powers for a wide variety of ailments. Dawson Springs was only one of a string of sites that advertised their waters are the most effective using testimonials as their only evidence. The mineral contents of the wells were published as further evidence. Lithium was one of the minerals that rode that wave owing to the ability of high concentration lithium solutions to dissolve uric acid crystals. However, Dawson Springs water generally had only trace amounts of lithium.