The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-03
KEELHY CURE DISCUSSED.


KELLEY CURE DISCUSSED.
Chicago PhyslcIans Have Faith In tho
Cure for DrunIsenncss-wiia Is It Made
OF?
Chicago Trrbmie.
DR.. Kelley and his bichloride OF gold
cure was the topic discussed at the first
banquet OF the Practitioners club at
the Palmer House last night. Abont
fifty doctors attended, including several
practitioners from out Of town.
1t was generally admitted that
whether the cure was composed OF BIZ
chloride OF gold or some other substance
it did all that was claimed for it. A
low adhered to the belief that drunken
ness wRH not disease, and therefore
could not ne treated as such. These
held the cure was rather due to tho
psychological effects than medical treat
men,. Some doubted II there was any
bichloridc OF gold in tho medicine.
They thought il might contain atrych-
mia, atropene, and bclladona. There
was general anxiety and desire OK
pressed 10 know what tho stuff was
made Of.
DR.. Waugh, cditoroi the Philadelphia
Medical Times and H,gtS,sr, said his at
tention was first called to DR.. Keeley's
euro BY remarkable cure. An old
friend whom he had known from his
bOyhood he'd beena confirmed drunk
ard Tor twenty years. lie had been
treated BY some Of the most eminent
practitioners of Philadelphia, had tried
various institutions, but tono avail.
He seemed to be q hopeless case. About
q year ago he went to Dwight and took
DR.. Keeley's treatment and was cured.
He returned to Philadelphia and said
he had no desire whatever for liquor.
The doctor said 80 far as he knew there
was no proof that there was any bichlo-
ride of gold in the mixture. II resem-
bled in some ways n cure some Russian
physicians had tried with good effect
some years ago, which was composed
largely Of strychnia and atropene.
DOES ALL CLAIMED FOR IT.
DR.. Archibald Church, editor OF the
Chicago Medical .ntcr, said so far as
he was able to It, the Kelley cure
did all that was claimed for it. There
was man, now on DIR. Keeley's medi-
cal staff at Dwight, who for fifteen
years at intervals OF four or five weeks
would 90 on sprees. He went to Dwight
and was cured. This man assured DR..
Church that he had not the slightest
desire for drink, but rather abhored it.
Whether the cure was entirely due to
the medicine or whether to the sur
roundings he could not say. He then
discussed the medicine and told OF
what it might possibly be composed.
Another Of the physicians told OF the
Bichloride OF Gold club here in Chicago
how it sent men to Dwight to be
treated and when these patients re-
turned cured they paid the club back
the money expended on them. A bust
ness-man he knew had tried in vain for
two years to overcome his taste Tor
strong drink. He finally went to
Dwight, and on his return said:
~ presume could contract the drink
ing habit again il tried, but it would
be like man who had never tasted it
trying to learn. And as know what
the habit Is it is not probable that ]
will attempt it. From the time | left
Dwight have had no desire to drink.
My stomach rebels against it.
The doctor said he made no claims
that this man was cured. He simply
stated what the man had told him.
DR.. Thomas said he believed that the
Kelley cure did all that was claimed
for it. DIR. Patton felt that the ques-
ton was SO largely psychological one
that the bichloride OF gold cure could
scarcely be called physiological rem
edy. DIR. Brown thought that the cure
was entirely psychological and not at all
medicinal.
admit" he said, "that drunkenness
is disease and there must be diseased
tissues some place. This cannot be
proven by the evidence so far submitted
by the Kelley people. A weak will
power is often the result Of these tissues
and because n patient is psychologically
influenced, placed amidst favorable sur
roundings, and medicine applied
which strengthens thc will power, one
is not justified i'll saying that he has
discovered q cure"
Ono OF tho speakers snid 1t would not
be fair to compare the Washingtonian
Home with DR.. Keeley's cure, inasmuch
US many of the patients ut the former
place werc not there OF their own Volt
ton, while DR.. Kccley's patients were
all voluntary. The surroundings were
also different. II DR.. Keeley's cure was
what he claimed for il, DR.. Keeley
should give it out to the profession.