Borjomi

BORJOMI, a balneological and climatic station 149 km from Tiflis, is the gateway to the most visited Georgian climatic stations—Tsagveri, Tsemi, and Bakuriani, connected by a narrow-gauge railway (32½ km). The territory of B. is located on the northern slopes of the Trialeti Range, where volcanic activity and fault cracks allowed the outflow of both more ancient lavas and post-glacial epoch lavas. Lava flows formed a series of plateaus, and due to the damming of the Kura River at the site of present-day B., there was a lake. The Lican, Cemetery, Green Ridge, Park of the 1st Sanatorium, and the mountainous side of B. (Mount Papis-Seri) represent a series of terraces testifying to the gradual lowering of the Borjomi level and the deepening of the Kura riverbed. The rivers Chernaya and Borzhomka, flowing into the Kura, cutting their way through the lavas, also deepened their riverbeds (up to 80 meters) and facilitated the outflows (total 24) of mineral waters opening in the Borzhomka river gorges. All waters are of one type, belonging to the group of alkaline-carbonic waters, with a predominance of sodium bicarbonate. There are two main sources: Ekaterininsky and Yevgenievsky. A series of analyses from 1868 to 1922 (Struve, Kuptsis, Moldingauer, Karstens, and others) showed that the temperature and chemical composition of the waters remain unchanged. Chemical composition of Borjomi waters. Ekaterininsky Yevgenievsky source source Components Cations 1.5328 1.5829 0.00116 0.00117 0.0357 0.0366 ammonium ion (NH4+) 0.00198 0.0032 0.0503 0.0536 0.1212 0.1268 strontium ion (Sr++) 0.00564 0.00573 0.00460 0.00420 0.00005 0.00005 manganese ion (Mn++) 0.00005 0.00006 0.00294 0.00320 aluminum ion (Al+++) 0.0023 0.0024 Hydrocarbonate ion Anions - (HCO3-) 4.0715 4.2023 arsenic ion (HAsO3--) 0.00005 0.000063 phosphate ion (HPO4--) 0.0016 0.0017 Fluoride ion (F') 0.00014 0.00014 0.4002 0.4227 0.00065 0.00066 0.00035 0.00037 Sulfate ion (SO4--) 0.00092 0.00096 Silicic acid (meta-H2SiO3) 0.0288 0.0332 0.0311 0.0325 Boric acid ion (BO2--) 0.00035 0.00037 Free carbon dioxide (CO2) 1.1572 1.491 Free hydrogen sulfide (H2S) 0.0033 0.0030 CO2 free, by volume 588.84 584.21 CO2 semi-free, by volume in cc at 0° and 760 mm pressure 747.20 771.22 The Borjomi sources have been studied in numerous laboratories and clinics (Dianina, Pavlova, Pasternatskogo, Favitskogo, Obolenskogo, Aladova and others); their action in many diseases is analogous to the action of Vichy waters (Zakharin). Indications: 1) catarrhs of the stomach with increased acidity, stomach ulcers, stomach neuroses, chronic catarrhs of the intestine; 2) diseases of the biliary tract, liver diseases of stasis and inflammatory character; 3) diseases of metabolism: diabetes mellitus, obesity, gout; 4) diseases of the urinary tract with an acidic reaction of urine; 5) diseases of the upper respiratory tract (not TB). Contraindicated: ulcerative enteritis, prone to bleeding, severe exhaustion, phosphaturia, alkaline urine, and others. The water of the Borjomi sources was earlier, mainly, exported; only recently has B. begun to develop as a resort. During the period 1920-27, a number of sanatoriums were opened. In addition, there are: the Kurortnoye Upravleniya hospital, the resort polyclinic, and a number of balneological institutions, of which the Phys.-therap. Institute is equipped according to the latest technical improvements. In the 'Park of Mineral Waters' are pavilions of the Yevgenievsky and Ekaterininsky sources, the old bathhouse and the bottling plant. In the vicinity of Borjomi there are: hydroelectric power station, glass, cooperage, filling, turpentine, and resin factories, as well as factories for obtaining carbon dioxide and turpentine (abundance of coniferous forests). Meteorological data for B. are available since 1877. By the average annual air temperature (9.5°), Borjomi stands higher than Karlsbad, Marienbad, Gastein, and Innsbruck in all months of the year, and among those at a similar altitude, higher than San Blasien. In B., due to protection by mountains from the north, there are no strong winds. Cloudiness and precipitation vary from year to year. April-June are more rainy; from July to October the weather is clear, dry, with a small amount of precipitation; from December to February, sometimes until March, there is snow, but not a continuous cover, and with temporary melting (December-February); in March there are sporadic snowy days. By the quantity of sunshine hours, B. stands on the same level as Davos and Arosa and higher than Leysen and Montre. Even better climatic conditions are on the Vorontsovskoye plateau, 170 m higher than the park (about 800 m above sea level). Here there is an even greater duration of sunshine and the absence of evening cold dampness felt in the park. Solariums are arranged in the park, as well as on the roof of the Phys.-therap. institute. Besides patients for whom the drinking of Borjomi waters is indicated, at present time people with anemia, with initial TB of the lungs, neurasthenics, cardiac patients (carbon dioxide baths), and various arthritics (Ahtal mud) also gather in B. During the season (June 15-October 1) more than 6,000 people pass. Yielding in climatic properties to some other Georgian resorts, in terms of mineral sources B. occupies the first place among them.

p. meezershshsh.