The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-21

the Kelley cure does effect cures, or re-
suits claimed for it, AID the failures or
loss of life under it are not greater than
happen in other practice, On the whole,
we cannot for the life of us understand
why physicians of tbs country should
object to the cure. That is to say, in
this day results rather than theories as
to how the results shall be attained, are
what the world wants.
Men care very little nowadays whether
school of physicians uses this, that, or
the other method, if only it relieves
human suffering, and effects, within rea-
son, a fair proportion of cures. and does
not expose human beings to extraordi-
nary risks in treatment. In the medical
society several physicians denounced the
Kelley cure as a humbug, because, ac-
cording to their allegations, and we have
no reason to doubt their sincerity, the re-
sultsaccomplishedfl flow largely from hum
buggery-that is to say. the patients are
dieted, retired from the world, morally
impressed, kept in a pleasant frame of
mind, treated with tonics, and, as one
doctor putt, possibly acted upon through
suggestion akin to hypnotism. Suppose
1t all to be true, what matter is il, if only
the result is human good? We appre-
bend that in precisely that light the
world OF men look at the whole subject.
However, there were some courageous
doctors in the convention who told tales
out of school. One declared with anus
ing frankness that all doctors humbug
their patients a good deal. There is
mystery with all of US in treating for
human Ills" said one. DR.. Aver opposed
action by the convention in opposition to
the Kelley cure until it was shown that ii
does not effect cures. Here was tolerant
physician who is more nearly abreast
with the age, we take it. He was replied to
that the Kelley system is quackery, and
that, as it is kept secret, it is suspicious.
but DIR. Aver was not 10 be downed, and
he replied:
II We see good done, shall we oppose it?
know that good has been done. Patients have
come back ana maintained sobrieIy since-ior
| htteen months now. And they have become
honorable people.
Such statements from the body of the
house III such distinguished assemblage
of learned men cannot be ignored,
whether they assist or injure the cause of
the Keeleyites. DR.. Regensberger sup
ported DIR. Aver, and declared that the
Kelley cure is doing good, and that the
profession knew it and ought to be frank
enough to admit it and to applaud the
result. DIR. Robertson and the President,
DIR. Taylor, reiterated that the Kelley cure
was not worthy of commentator, hold
ing that what it effects is most largely the
result of treatment that has no relation
to the medicines alleged to be used. DIR.
Kenyon and DR.. Shiels, though not recog-
nizing the Kelley system as within the
professional ethics, declared:
1t is delicate matter for us to discuss. Peo-
pie go TO the Kelley Institute; hey come back
and sin no more. We should not he too ready
10 criticiSe the method II the result Is all
right. We all practice every day certain
amount of deception in our profession. We
can't help commencing the heeiey people on
the good that they have done. The ways may
be crooked, but yet good may be accom-
plished. Some who were total wrecks have
taken the Kelley cure and have made good
and useful citizens.
All which we have quoted to empha-
size what appears to US to be a most i'm
portant advance in the profession of med
icine, that is. the liberation that justifies
physicians in according credit to those
whom under the ethics of the school are
tabooed, so long as the results accom-
plished are precisely those the school of
medicine itself desires. A few years
ago no medical society was witness to
such broadness and federation. That the
doctors in their convention disagreed as
to the several cures for drunkenness was
not new; but that any considerable num-
Der of them would be listened to in pro-
test against denunciation of system dis
approved by the codes of the profession,
| certainly testifies to the growth of tolera-
ton and to the spread of liberal spirit.
This same subject OF curing drunken
ness has been freely discussed in the
medical schools of the East repeatedly.
There, as here, the doctors divide, and
oftener sharply on the lines of preju-
dice and professional ethics than on the
substantial merits of systems. So far as
we have been able to follow these debates,
the specialists in the treatment of drunk
enness have come out first best, and the
sentiment of liberalism in the public
mind has manifested itself in their behalf,
which we take it is an indication credit
able to the age.
PERHAPS not since the days of Dick
Turpin and Claude Duval has there been
any such example of audacity as that of
the outlaws Sontag and Evans. They
appear to be playing with the officials Of
the law, and laughing at their attempts
to capture them. They have their re-
treat in some mountain fastness, and
enter cities and towns of the valley when
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