Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-10
FERRAL'S EXPERIENCE.
A WELL-KNOWN LAWYERS CURE
OF DRINKING.
He Describes His Condition and What
He Suffered-He Tried the Silver Ash
Cure and Is Saved.

The following letter is from Mr.. Wal
ter Ferral, well-known attorney of
San Francisco and San Diego, who has
long been victim of the drink habit:
To D. 8. Alexander. Esq, Manager of the SILVER
| Ash Institute, Los Angeles
MY DEAR SIR: Having undergone a
four weeks treatment at the Silver Ash
institute, seeking cure from years of
duty l owe to you, and particu-
larly do 1 owe it especially to
the many unfortunate ones on
this .coast who are slowly but surely
sinking under the curse of strong drink,
to let the result of my treatment be
known to the public through the press.
Over twenty years ago in this state I be-
gan drinking intoxicating liquor, but
little did 1 dream at that time of the
sorrow, misery and suffering that was to
come to me in life through the folly
of taking the first drink. Gradually,
but surely, the habit fastened itself
upon me. Still 1 would laugh
at the idea that 1 would ever become
slave to the deadly evil that has cursed
ths human family more than all the
other evils of the earth combined. 1
fattered myself 1 was a moderate
drinker and could quit whenever 1
wanted to. Years of sorrow and suffer-
ing have taught me that l was insane
when thought there was no danger to
the moderate drinker. This is the start
ing point on the road to a drunk
ards grave, for if we had no
moderate drinkers, we would have
no drunkards. For the past ten
years have drank hard, having lost
completely all control over my craving
appetite for liquor. My periodical
sprees became more frequent, and would
last four, six and eight weeks at a
time. When arrived at the institute
was complete wreck physically, from
long indulgence of my fatal appetite
for liquor. When I began the treat
ment had little or no hope of cure.
1 was told by your able and
genial physician, DR.. Shumway, that I
would be subjected to no force and that
could have as many six.ounce bottles
of $5 whiskey as 1 wanted to drink.
This was surprise to me, for how he
was going to cure me, and at the same
time supply me with what my appetite
craved, was something I could not
understand. On the third day of the
treatment returned my bottle to the
doctor, finding it an utter impossibility
to touch it without getting sick at the
stomach From that moment my
fatal appetite was conquered, and
now hate the very sight of it. During
my four weeks stay at the institute I
witnessed the effect of the treatment on
a number of other patients. The effect
was just the same as in my case-an
absolute and complete cure. There are
certain physicians-but, thank God,
they are few in number-and certain
would-be critics, who are endeavoring
to create prejudice and fear in the
minds OF those who are contemplating
going to the Silver Ash institute
for treatment, by circulating reports
that the treatment as administered by
DR.. Shumway invariably leaves the pa
tient in a weak, emaciated condition
has tendency to seriously in.
Whoever circulates these malicious re-
ports either does not know what
they are talking about, or else they are
circulating deliberate falsehood in Or
der to accomplish some personal end of
their own. There is not a shadow of
truth in such reports. In my case, and
in the case of every patient that has
gone through the treatment at your
institute, the proof is positive that it
not only destroys the appetite for aico.
holic drink, but it builds up and puts
new strength in the body that was shat
tered and wrecked by alcohol, and the
mind of the patient becomes clear and
strong as it ever was. If some of their
critics will 60 through the treatment,
it will have wonderful effect
on their mental powers, and enable
them at least to speak the truth, and
assist in having the unfortunate slave
to the curse of strong drink go to your
institute, where he can be cured and re-
stored to society, manhood and happi-
ness once again. May success ever at
tend you and DR.. Shumway in your
effort6 to save those who have fallen
under the witherng influence of the
curse OF drink, is the earnest wish of
your sincere friend.
WALTER FERRAL.
San Diego. April 4, 1892.