EVERYDAY LIFE IN SANATORIUMS IN THE KINGDOM OF POLAND AND THE WESTERN PROVINCES OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE (Siec uzdrowisk w Koólestwie Polskim i zachodnich guberniach Cesarstwa Rosyjskiego)

The promotion of local health resorts and climate treatment centres undertaken by balneologists required creating a certain standard of living that would encourage a potential client to choose Ciechocinek, Naleczów or Slawuta instead of travelling to Carlsbad or Ostend. There were several factors that made the everyday life in a health resort comfortable. Firstly, good transport connections were absolutely crucial. Secondly, it was necessary to give visitors an chance to find comfortable lodgings, either in sanatoriums or in boarding houses. Thirdly, a vital factor was the quality of catering services, provided by sanatoriums, restaurants and boarding houses, as well as self-catering facilities (access to shops, kitchens, utensils and fuel). Fourthly, not less important, especially for convalescents, was an opportunity to find some entertainment. All those aspects are explored in the present article. The attraction of a resort was certainly increased by the closeness of a railway line. In all resorts there were carriages, cabs and carts waiting on the railway station to convey the arriving patients to sanatoriums and pensions. The prices varied according to the driving comfort. Choosing a good boarding house or reserving a place in a sanatorium was certainly central to the comfort of the stay in the resort, but it mainly depended on the visitor's financial standing. An important part of treatment was appropriate diet, following the doctor's advice. Visitors of health resorts had a lot of free time. Therefore, most resorts had ball rooms, concert halls, billiard rooms and reading rooms.