The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-10-28
Temperance.
The Kelley Cure.


the drunkards who undergo his treat
ment, is naturally exciting great inter-
est in all parts of the country. Promi-
nent physicians, who have discussed
the subject in the North american Re
vie,o, question his methods and results
on physiological grounds, while the
regular profession generally objects to
the fact that he uses stcret remedy
On the other hand, there are multiplied
witnesses to the quickness and efficacy
of the restoration brought about by his
treatment; one of them being con-
tributor to the same periodical.
The clearest, and apparently most
impartial testimony, is that which DIR.
A. r. Rice, a respo ctable physician of
Springfield Mass, has furnished to the
Republican of that city. He went to
Dwight skeptic, but returned home a
full believer in DIR. Kelley. The latter,
a strong temperance man, began study
ing alcoholism twenty years ago, and
reached the conclusion that it was a
disease. About twelve years ago be
conceived the utility of hypodermic
injections of bichloride of gold, and
also devised a remedy to be swallowed.
The composition of this last he keeps
secret. His patients have constantly
increased in number until hundreds
flock to Dwight at one time. 1t is
claimed that fully ninety-eight per cent
of these are cured of all desire for drink,
though many of them were believed by
themselves and others to be past cure.
DIR. Rice was granted every oppor-
tunity for observation while at Dwight.
When patient presents himself he is
asked to describe his case. Then he is
offered drink of whiskey if he Graves
it, for DIR. Kelley does not require his
patients to stop short an abnormal habit
of many years standing. This drink of
whiskey the patient can always have by
asking for it, but as will presently APP
pear the thirst soon becomes a memory.
Every patient is required to take his
place. lin line four times day-at s A. NJ,
II NJ, and and Z: 30 P. NJ. Four doc
tors, all cured inebriates, stand ready
to make hypodermic injection of the
bichloride of gold on the upper arm.
Once in every two hours between get
ting up and going to bed every patient
must swallow teaspoonful of drink
consisting of some secret solution mixed
in quarter Of tumblerful of water.
This daily programme is all there is to
the treatment, and it continues for three
weeks, rarely for four weeks, when in
variably the patient is discharged cured.
Inasmuch as the bchloride of gold has
somewhat depressing effect upon the
system, sign of which is the disagree
able odor of the patients perspiration,
bottle of a simple vegetable tonic is
given each man as he leaves the estab-
lishment. The patient during his three
weeks of treatment eats what he wants,
and is under no restrictions whatever
as to his mode of life, except that he is
asked to take two baths a week.
1t is claimed that the taste for spirits
is generally lost within forty-eight hours
from the time that treatment is begun.
The stomach not only ceases to crave,
but rejects with disgust, all kinds of al
coholic drinks. The average course of
medication is about three weeks. A
very curious phenomenon almost invari-
ably takes place about the middle of the
second week. There is sudden rise of
bodily temperature, and vomiting and
purging ensues. This condition con-
tinues from twenty.four to twenty-six
hours, during which the patient can
hold nothing on his stomach. In the
meantime the regular injections and
doses are continued and no remedies
for the illness are applied. The pa
tient invariably regains his appetite,
and the feverishness subsidies, and from
that time on there is a gradual improve
ment in his physical condition. The
sight Ct men suddenly pausiug to vomit
is a common one on the streets of
Dwight, says DR.. Rice, and those who
witness it simply remark: "There's a
man on his second week"
The Doctors charges are $25 a week,
and the patient who leaves cured " is
never allowed to return if he has re-
lapse. This rule is justified on the
ground that the patient will have
greater difficulty in acquiring, for the
second time, taste for stimulants than
he did in the first place, and that ac-
cordingly there is no use of wasting
time on so foolish person.
Accepting the statements summar-
lied above, what are we to infer from
them? Certainly DIR. Kelley does not
work miracles, and his discrimination