Opening of the exhibition “Doctor at the Resort in the 19th Century” | Jurmala Museum

From December 11 to May 24, the Jurmala Museum will host the exhibition “A Doctor in a Resort in the 19th Century”, which reveals an era when medicine and society experienced rapid changes and resorts became an important part of the lifestyle.

The 19th century was a time of industrial revolution and scientific development in the world, which introduced new treatment methods, instruments and educational reforms. It was during this period that the understanding of hygiene, disease prevention and health improvement was strengthened in society.

During this time, a new profession also emerged – a spa doctor, which is closely related to the development of spas. The word “resort” came to the Latvian language from German, and at the beginning of the 19th century, resorts became an integral part of public health and lifestyle. In Latvia, the most important spas were Ķemeri and the Riga seaside, where the first swimming facilities were opened and medical practice began. Development was facilitated by improvements in transport – boat traffic and later also the railway line, which significantly increased the number of holidaymakers.

The exhibition also draws attention to the change in social habits, which in the 19th century became the basis of health culture. Regular hand and face washing, oral hygiene and the use of various water procedures became the daily norm. Water healing was especially popular, which was widely popularized by the German clergyman Sebastian Kneipp, who developed a course of treatment that was used both in resorts and at home.

The exhibition features items from the collection of the Jurmala Museum, as well as from the Bauska Museum, Daugavpils Museum of Local Lore and Art, the Latvian National History Museum, the Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine, the Riga Art Nouveau Centre, the Riga History and Shipping Museum, as well as from the private collections of Daiņš Sīļs and Artis Ērglis. The author and curator of the exhibition is Mārtiņš Vesperis, the artist is Ieva Lapiņa.

Jurmala Museum opening hours: Mon., Tue. – Closed, Tue. – Sun. – 10:00 – 18:00.