California as a Health Resort

San Francisco: Bolte and Braden, 1916. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. 299 pp, with numerous illustrations from photographs, in original pictorial boards with interesting faux-hinge design. Rubbing to edges, small splits starting at joints, dent to top edge of rear board, contemporary gift inscription on front free endpaper. Otherwise unmarked, clean and sound. Sanders was a British physician who found himself in California in the course of his work as a ship's doctor. He took a patient to visit a mineral spring resort and, impressed with the results, decided to remain in California to "make a tour of it and find out all about these springs, using the railroad when available--walking and bicycling when not." He writes in the Introduction that he traveled from Klamath Springs at the northern border of the state all the way to San Diego, visiting "scores of springs," taking samples of their waters for analysis, and concluding that many had "decided curative properties." Details are recounted in some detail in chapters on the chemistry and therapeutic value of mineral waters and on specific springs he determined to have curative properties. He also writes of "other health resorts and places of interest" he visited, noting "I have gone into the question of climate, soil, altitude, products, etc., in so far as these subjects apply to those coming to California in search of health, occupation, and recreation." Sanders claims John Muir as a friend and says he was "greatly aided" by the naturalist while working on this book, adding that "the details regarding many of the forest trees and lakelets were given me by Mr. Muir himself." Rocq (7182) lists a pamphlet on Arrowhead Hot Springs Sanders published in 1915, but not this scarce title.