Mineral waters, spas and therapeutics in seventeenth and eighteenth century Portugal

Abstract

This article presents a general outline of the growing interest in medicinal waters and spas in Portugal during the eighteenth century, with special emphasis on the theoretical attitude and practice of the medical community and the ruling classes regarding mineral waters and on the development of the main institutions dedicated to hydrotherapy, trying to interpret the obstacles that prevented a more general social acceptance of spas and a greater adherence of physicians to therapeutic use of mineral waters in Portugal in this period.