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Until the mid-20th century there was widespread belief in the power of mineral water to cure a range of diseases. In the absence of effective medical treatments for chronic conditions such as rheumatism, people visited spas in desperation. The man in the metal cage is undergoing a douche (spray) bath, while the attendant regulates the water pressure.
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Alexander Turnbull Library, Tourist Department Album 11 (PA1-o-503)
Reference: PA1-o-503-07
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.