The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-08
TRYING THE GOLD CURE.
SAVANNAH PHYSICIANS DO NOT
TAKE MUCH sTocK INIT.

TAKE MUCH STOCK IN 1T.
a sAvsnnah!an Who Thinks He Has
Been Cured or Drunkenness by
Elixir OF Three Chlorides Prescribed
6y His Physician as Tonic--A Sim
liar Remedy to DR.. Kseley's BeinR
Tried on Confirmed InebriAts With
Apparent Succsss-The Majority OF
Physicians Not IncAusd 60 the Cure.
The physicians Of Savannah do not seem
10 be very much impressed with DIR. Kee-
lsy's bi-chl0rlde OF gold cure. which is the
latest sensation Ia the medical world. Some
Of them think It will so the wsy Of the
Brown-Sequard elixir. Prof. Koch's lymph
aud the host Of others that have gone be.
fore.
The attention of the MORNING Nkws
was called TO the subject in direct
manner recently by communication the
signer Of which said he had bssn a victim
for years TO the alcohol habit, and
that he had been permanently cured
by the use OF "Eilxir OF Three
Chlorides" prescribed for him by
a weL-known Savannah physician. He
was anxious that other sufferers should
know OF the rsilsf at hand aud 70 this end
requested the publication Of his eommnnica-
ton that all afflicted with the liquor habit
might avail themselves Of the remedy.
HOW SAVANNAH DOCTORS REGARD II.
To learn the estimate placed upon the
chloride or gold cure, MORNING News re-
porter interviewed q number of leading
physicians yesterday. The most Of them
talked freely upon the subject, but, as il is
against professional ethics for physicians to
all ns.9 Fhafr 70 in Nha I'M IN
prints ia such connection, they are not
quoted.
The one mentioned In the communication
to the MORNING News as having prescribed
three chlorides" as a cure for drunkenness,
was a little surprised at the information.
He said he had prescribed a preparation OF
chlorides OF arsenic, mercury and iron.
commonly sold at the drug stores as tonic
for the system without relying upon 1t for
any cure of the alcoholic habit. but, of
course, he was glad - know il had such an
effect.
SIMPLY A TONIC.
THE action OF the chlorides was simply
to build up the SYSTEM he said, land by
healing the diseased stomach and strength
enina the system doubtless put the man in
better condition 70 resist the appetite for
liquor"
With reference to the bi-chloride Of gold
cure, or double chloride of gold and sodium,
which is the proper term for the remedy, be
said he had given il little attention ana ex-
pected little from it.
Another well-kuown physician, when
asked about the Kelley cure, replied: 1t
Is mere fake Simply one OF ths quack-
cries that spring up one after the other. l
think Kelley and others IKE him agitate
these things simply to get themselves ad-
vertised. A short while from now it will
take its place beside the Brown-Ssquard
elixir and Prof. Koch's lymph.
NOT A DRUNKNEss CURE.
There is no virtue in chloride OF gold As
O cure for the alcoholic disease. Ii is well
known TO the medical profession as an alter
alive. Its goods effects In treating habitual
drunkenness are to tone up the system and
heal the diseased condition of the drunk
ards stomach, What the psychological
effects Of the treatment are | cannot say,
but that, you know, in certain nervous
organizations, goes long way. There eau
be no permanent cure OF the alcoholic dis
ease with the chloride of gold treatment
Chloride OF gold is used with good effect
Ia cases of consumption and Bnght's dis
ease. cured what had bsen pronounced a
hopeless case of Bright's disease by the
hypodermc injection OF chloride OF gold
Other physicians spoke Of the Kelley
treatment in pretty much the same manrer.
though all did not express them
selves SO strongly. The physicians seem
| 10 rely greatly upon the opinion Of the Med
| zeal Record and the Medical Journal. and
as neither of these has approved the treat
ment they were inclined TO doubt lts eff
cacy. Some thought it had not been given
a sufficient trial to speak of it decisively.
TRYING ITS EFFICACY.
A well-known young physician said that
| while he doubts the virtue OF the Kelley
| treatment he is now treating one of the
most noted inebriates Of the city with great
success with one-rwelfth Of grain doses Of
bi-chloride Of gold and sodium takea inter
nally, and hypodermic injections OF sui
phste of strychnine. His patient, who IL
enc Of the worst xamples OF the evil Of
fects Of alcohol to be found, has not taken &
drink in four weeks.
The death Of John Flavel Mines, brill
liant and vel.known journalist, in a New
York hospital last week, has givcr
baeksee to the Kelley cure. Mines
was one Of the brightest examples Of tbs
cure. His "cure" was completed last May
but he died in a hospital. the victim o
alcoholism, just six months afterward.