[Nowe Miasto on the Pilica rier--the first XIXth Physiotherapeutic Institution in Polish Kingdom]

The first nineteenth- century clinic of natural medicine in Poland was founded in 1874 in Nowe Miasto on the Pilica. The founder was Doctor Jan Kapistran Bieliński. The clinic being located by the riverside was fed with 5 springs of cold water and was surrounded by a big park. In the clinic following treatments were provided: hydrotherapy (a hot, cool, steam, salt, gas, aromatic bath, showers) kinesthesiotherapy (treatment by motion, gymnastics), electrotherapy (static electricity, electric bathing), massage and dietary and pharmacological treatment. In Nowe Miasto diseases of the nervous system (spinal neurasthenia, epilepsy, chorea, nervous palsy) were treated as well as of the vascular system (haemorrhage, anaemia, cardiovascular disorder), the respiratory system (bronchitis, pneumoitis, asthma), the digestive system (catarrh and ulceration of stomach and intestines), the sexual system (disorders of menstruation, infertility), urinary tracts (the atonia of bladder, albuminuria, glycosuria) and others (rheumatism, obesity, deafness, convalescence). The clinic had a good reputation and was still being extended. In 1896 it consisted of 26 buildings which housed 150 guest rooms. A very modern medicine department "Marylin" rated the clinic of Nowe Miasto among the top European clinics. The Bieliński's clinic employed following staff: 5 doctors, 2 paramedics, 10 male baths attendants (male nurses who worked in baths), 7 female baths attendants and between ten and twenty support staff. The clinic was open the whole year treating about 400 persons yearly. The patients came from the whole area of Congress Kingdom of Poland as well as from cities abroad: Moscow, St Petersburg, Smolensk, Cracow, London or New York. The majority of patients came from Lódź and Warsaw. The Doctor J.K. Bielinski's clinic was a cultural centre, too. In their spare time the clients of the clinic were offered trips, balls, lectures, stage performances, concerts and painting exhibitions. I. Paderewski, E. Orzeszkowa, W. Reymont, M. Rodziewiczówna, M. Andriolli, W. Chełmoński and others gave their lectures and performances there. The orchestra of Namysłowski and Ciani played for the patients. Doctor Jan Bileliński worked for the clinic of natural medicine of Nowe Miasto for 42 years. This medical centre existed until 1915. In the course of the war it was entirely damaged and it wasn't reconstructed in the following years.