Santa Barbara County History

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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Source:
A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara,
San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California
by Yda Addis Storke
Published in 1891 in Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Co.


THE HOT SPRINGS. 

The Montecito Hot Springs are about six miles from Santa Barbara, beyond Montecito, 
up quite a steep ascent of the mountains, at about 1,450 feet above the sea. 

It is said that while California still appertained to Mexico, and this, as a province, 
to the crown of Spain, a commission sent out by the government to examine and report 
upon all the mineral waters then known to exist in Mexico and the Californias, reported 
most favorably upon the properties of the Montecito springs for the curing of cutaneous 
diseases. As to their later discovery, the story goes that in 1855, Mr. Wilbur Curtis was 
wandering in search of some spot which should restore his health, broken in the rough 
life of the mines, when he chanced upon a party of Indians encamped at the mouth of 
this canon. Telling them of his condition, they took him to these springs, and one 
veteran of over 100 years old told how he had bathed here and drunk since childhood 
from the waters, to whose virtues he ascribed his longevity. Mr. Curtis drank, bathed, and 
was healed; and with the genuine American practicality, lie took up a claim, foreseeing 
that this property would be of great value in the future. From a blanket camp, through 
the progressive stages of a tent, a hut, a cottage, the evolution has progressed to the 
present conditions, provisions and building materials being carried for years over a rough 
trail, which has now been widened into a good stage road. Gushing from crevices in 
the solid rock, on the premises are some thirty mineral springs. Some of these are 
sulphurous, others saline and chalybeate, ranging in temperature from 99� to 120� 
Fahrenheit. Seven of the principal springs are used for drinking and bathing purposes. 

These waters are of great value in the treatment of rheumatism, gout, joint affections, 
Bright's disease, liver trouble and bladder irritation; being antacid, considerable benefit 
may be derived from the waters in dyspepsia, and acid conditions of the blood and urine. 
Perhaps the greatest benefit accrues from bathing in the sulphurous and saline waters, 
especially in syphilitic and scrofulous contaminations, grandular enlargements, and chronic 
skin diseases. The waters much resemble the famous Hot Springs of Arkansas. Of late, the 
arsenical spring has been developed, with excellent results. 

There is now at this resort a good hotel, well managed, with the modern comforts and 
conveniences, and particular attention is paid to the opening up of trails, etc., to the end 
of affording diversion and exercise for the guests and patients. 

Dr. Brinkerhoff wrote, regarding these springs: " I do not regard the use of these waters 
by any means as a panacea for all the ills which flesh is heir to, but for the cure of certain 
diseases they are unmistakably efficacious. I have known some cases which seemed to defy 
all powers of medication, cured in a surprisingly short space of time by the waters of these 
springs, advisedly used as a beverage and for bathing purposes. The indiscriminate use of 
them may be disadvantageous, and even positively injurious, and before resorting to them 
patients should always consult some experienced physician as to their proper use."