BEGINNINGS OF THE MEDICAL USE OF WATER
The healing effects of mine water had already been noticed by miners working in the Jáchymov mines during the nineteenth century. While working in flooded parts of the mines they observed that the water helped relieve pain in joints and muscles. At that time, however, nobody could explain why the water had such effects.
A turning point came only at the end of the nineteenth century with the discovery of radioactivity. In 1896 it was discovered by the French physicist Henri Becquerel and two years later Marie and Pierre Curie isolated a new element – radium. These discoveries led scientists to believe that the healing effects of the Jáchymov water might be connected with radioactive substances present in the rocks of the Ore Mountains.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
On 7 January 1904 the physicists Stefan Meyer and Heinrich Mache arrived in Jáchymov from Vienna to measure the radioactivity of local waters. Their research focused mainly on the Werner mine, today known as the Rovnost mine.
At the face of the Schweizer vein they discovered water with exceptionally high radioactivity, which at that time was considered the most radioactive water in the world. This discovery confirmed that the Jáchymov springs might have significant therapeutic potential.
An important role was also played by the chief mining administrator Ing. Josef Štěp. During his own investigations he discovered additional powerful springs on the Daniel level of the Werner mine. These springs were later named the Štěp springs.
THE FIRST SPA BATHS
Based on these discoveries the district physician MUDr. Leopold Gottlieb began experimenting with the medical use of radioactive water. In 1906 he established the first two spa bathing cabins in the house of the baker Josef Kühn at today’s Náměstí Republiky.
Water from the Werner mine was brought there by the retired miner Josef Prennig, who carried it on his back in a mining basket. However, the interest in the new baths was so great that the water soon had to be transported by horse-drawn wagon.
These early experiments marked the beginning of the systematic use of radon water for medical treatment.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPA INSTITUTE
The growing number of patients soon led to the decision to build a proper spa facility. Between 1906 and 1911 the first state spa building was therefore constructed – the Radium Treatment Institute, today known as the Agricola Spa Centre.
Water from the Werner mine was brought into the building and used both for bathing and drinking cures. Jáchymov thus became the first place in the world where radioactive water was systematically used in spa treatment.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR WORLD SPA MEDICINE
The Jáchymov spa laid the foundations of an entirely new medical field – radon balneotherapy. Over time, treatment methods developed here focused mainly on diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
To this day Jáchymov remains one of the most important centres of radon treatment in the world. A unique feature of the spa is that the healing water is still obtained from the deep Svornost mine, one of the oldest continuously used mines in Europe.
