Bathing and healing since the year 1847

The Englishmen were pioneers in the art of taking cold baths. Already in the 1700th century they could read about people taking baths in the sea, so very good for their health. During the 1800th century the belief in seawater as something that could cure both mental and physical illnesses became a science.

In Sweden however people were sceptical. Cold baths in open sea could only lead to death. Gradually water therapy came into fashion, but then in the form of ”drinking the waters” and maybe cold baths in a tub.

In the beginning of the 1900th century the Swedish Physicians ́s Society propagated for the good and healing effects of sea-bathing. The higher ranges of society were attracted by the the seaside resorts that were established throughout the century, e.g. Gustafsberg (1804), Marstrand (1822), Varberg (1823), Särö (1839) and Lysekil (1847) to examine the modernities.

The physician among others who was responsible for the sea-bathing was Carl Curman. He was teaching balneology at Karolinska institutet (Stockholm). Together with some of his colleagues he aimed at making it a science. Even the air by the see was curative. Curman examined down to the very last detail the air in Lysekil and its effects on people ́s health. He came here 26 years old in 1859 and was active up to 1887. Thanks to him Lysekil developed into the finest seaside resort in Sweden.

In 1864 they started to construct the big house for warm baths. That was the first bigger building that was built by that sea-bathing company that Carl Curman and some of his colleauges established after Mollén ́s death.