Pyatigorsk

Pyatigorsk, a city in the North Caucasus territory, located at 44°3' N latitude and 60°3' E longitude, in 1899 on the left bank of the Podkumka River, at an elevation of 510 meters above sea level, on the southern and southwestern slopes of Mount Mashuk, as well as in the gorge between Mashuk and its spur, Mount Goryachaya. Mashuk is one of the 5 large mountains of the Beshtau region, representing a forest-covered conical mountain with a circumference of about 8 km. The summit of the mountain rises 1,050 meters above sea level. All the sulfur springs of Pyatigorsk emerge from Mount Goryachaya. The history of the resort is described under 'Caucasian Mineral Waters.' The origin of Pyatigorsk's mineral springs is connected with relatively recent magma breakthroughs, which continue to saturate the spring waters with gases. 'In the formation of Pyatigorsk waters, three waters participate: the main mineralized stream coming from horizons lying below the dolomites, sulfate water circulating through the dolomites, and fresh, weakly mineralized water from Senonian limestones' (Ogilvy). According to their mineralization, the springs belong to the carbonic chloride-hydrocarbonate-sulfate-sodium-calcium type and are divided into two large groups: 1) sulfur springs, whose waters contain hydrogen sulfide (in relatively small quantities - 10 mg per 1 liter), and 2) non-sulfur springs. The sulfur springs are distinguished by their high temperature and contain a large amount of free CO₂. In former times, Pyatigorsk had a very large number of sulfur springs, as water flowed from almost all the cracks in Mount Goryachaya. After the capture of the main springs, many of the former water outlets disappeared. The main springs, the most powerful and hottest, are the Aleksandro-Ermolovsky and Sabaneevsky. The water of both these springs differs little in chemical composition and temperature. The total flow of both springs reaches 1,200,000 liters per day. The water of the Aleksandro-Ermolovsky spring is conducted to the pavilion in Tsvetnik, where it is drunk under its old name, the Vorontsovsky spring; the latter spring has been closed due to repeatedly established contamination. The Tovievsky inner and Kabardian springs have a lower temperature and smaller flow; the resort does not use these springs. The flow of the Mikhailovsky springs is inconsistent: sometimes they give no water for several months, sometimes for a whole year. The sulfur lake in the Proval usually has no outflow, but in years with heavy precipitation, a free outflow from the lake is observed in spring. The spring in the Proval, which had a reputation as an 'eye' spring, has dried up. Non-sulfur springs, containing only traces of H₂S and a large amount of free CO₂, are used for drinking treatment. These include: the spring named after Academician Pavlov (formerly Teplyy Narzan), the Kholodny Narzan, which is its derivative, and 3 recently captured Krasnoarmeysky springs. With the opening of these springs, Pyatigorsk is beginning to become a drinking resort for treating diseases of the digestive tract and metabolic diseases. The springs named after Pavlov and Kholodny Narzan have been studied experimentally (Zipadov and Lidskaya) and clinically. The effect of the Krasnoarmeysky springs is being studied at present, however, the water is already empirically prescribed with benefit. The advantage of the Krasnoarmeysky springs over the spring named after Pavlov is their greater proximity to the resort's medical institutions. Of the 3 radioactive springs, the largest flow is from spring No. 1 (160,000 liters), spring No. 2 gives only 6,000 liters, spring No. 3 has no free outflow, but when pumped gives up to 80,000 liters. At present, capture work is being done on new, discovered by Prof. Ogilvy, springs with high radioactivity (from 500 to 1,000 units on the Mache scale). Since the water of the existing radioactive springs of Pyatigorsk has only about 50 units on the Mache scale, it is clear that the discovery of new springs must play a very significant role in the fate of Pyatigorsk. In addition to the listed springs, bitter springs, springs of the Essentuki water type, and others have been discovered in Pyatigorsk, but have not yet been captured. From the moment when all these springs are used for therapeutic purposes, the significance of Pyatigorsk as a resort must change substantially. Pyatigorsk has 3 bathhouses for sulfur baths: 1) the Lermontov building, built more than 100 years ago and rebuilt in recent years. The building is located in the center of the resort, near Tsvetnik. 2) the Pushkin building, located near the Academic Gallery, and 3) the Tilicheevsky building, located at the Proval; it serves the sanatoriums located at the Proval. The water of the Sabaneevsky spring is used to supply the so-called Public Baths, pools that have no therapeutic value and are not prescribed to resort patients. Mud procedures (local - from 1 to 4 buckets of mud) are dispensed from the mud of Tambukan Lake in a model mud therapy clinic, which is also supplied with sulfur water from the Aleksandro-Ermolovsky spring. Finally, there is a building for radioactive baths, a hydrotherapy clinic adjoining this building, and an excellently equipped Physiotherapy Institute named after Röntgen. All these medical institutions allow for intensive heat treatment in Pyatigorsk, both primary and combined, for which reason Pyatigorsk is considered the most suitable resort for heat treatment among the Caucasian Mineral Waters. In the first 100 years of its existence, Pyatigorsk had a reputation mainly as a resort for treating syphilis, since sulfur was attributed specific properties in syphilis. At present, the main significance of Pyatigorsk lies in its effect on metabolism. In general, the main indications for Pyatigorsk are diseases of the motor organs, diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system (including neurosyphilis), metabolic diseases, professional poisoning by metallic poisons, skin diseases, as well as diseases of the stomach and intestines (drinking treatment). Contraindications for Pyatigorsk: recent syphilis infections and their contagious manifestations, compression myelitis, bony ankyloses, muscular atrophies, extensive ulcerative forms of tuberculosis of the skin, and neoplasms of female organs. The climate of Pyatigorsk in summer is the driest compared to other Caucasian Mineral Waters groups. The average annual barometric pressure is 719.1, its average usual fluctuations are from 716.5 (July) to 721.8 (October). The prevailing winds are eastern and western; the latter are mostly warm and bring rain. May and June are usually rainy, from the end of June hot and dry weather sets in. Autumn is usually sunny, dry with light precipitation. In winter, fogs are frequent. In general, changes in weather are very frequent. The treatment season lasts all year except April. In terms of sanitation, Pyatigorsk cannot be called fully equipped. It is divided into the resort area, located near the springs and medical institutions, including the Proval, and the proper city, in which the number of sanitary defects is significantly greater. For the accommodation of patients, there is the clinic of the State Central Balneological Institute on the Caucasian Mineral Waters, located on the mountain above Tsvetnik, 5 resort sanatoriums (4 at the Proval, 1 on the road to the Proval), the Military Resort Station (at the Proval), 2 sanatoriums of the Tsu-strakh insurance society (1 at the Proval, 1 on the road to the Proval), and several resort pensions. In 1931, about 19,000 patients were treated in Pyatigorsk.