Keeley Cure

Kinston Free Press – 1 Dec 1898

Col. W.H. Osborn, President of the Institute, was in Kinston This Week, and Told “The Free Press” Some Interesting Facts About His Work.

Col. W.H. OSBORN, president of the Keeley Institute of Greensboro, N.C., came to Kinston Monday and left Wednesday morning.  He came on a visit to his friend, Mr. A.K. UMSTED, one of our prominent tobacco operators, who is one of the directors of the Institute.

We had the pleasure of meeting Col. OSBORN, and heard him to be a clever gentleman, and earnestly enthused over the work of his Institute.

Col. OSBORN is deeply grateful for the almost miraculous cure of himself from drinking many years ago, having availed himself of the treatment at Dwight, Ill, the parent Institute; and he became so sure of the efficacy of the remedy that, together with a number of philanthropic capitalists of the State, he established the Institute at Greensboro seven years ago. 

Col. OSBORN says he has never had the least desire for strong drink since taking the treatment many years ago. We learned from Col. OSBORN that the Institute at Greensboro has treated about 2,500 persons during the seven years of its existence.  A portion of those taking the treatment have returned to the evil addiction, but a large majority have held steadfast.  The Greensboro Institute is in correspondence with over 1,700 persons who have never returned to the habit, and there are a good number who have remained cured and do not correspond with the Institute.  So it is plainely seen that a very large percentage of those taking the treatment are permanently cured. 

Col. OSBORN says that the Keeley cure will cure – that it restored the patient’s nervous system to its normal condition; restores the mind, and enables him to quit drinking; that the patient leaves the Institute with a sound mind in a sound body.  But he says the treatment will not prevent a man from drinking – that if he desires to return to drink or drugs he can do so – that sometimes men drink to “drown trouble,” etc.  The treatment, however, does enable a man to stop drinking if the man desires to stop, and takes away his appetite for it, and thoroughly eradicates the thirst. 

Some of the best men in the State owe their success and present good condition to the Keeley Institute.  It has rescured a host of good men from going to drunkard’s graves.  Col. OSBORN, up to about a year ago, kept a list of the patients who, before taking the treatment, were actually not earning their salt, but who are now earning $50 a month and more.  This list numbered 368 names, not one earning less than $50 a month, some earning $100, $200, $300 and more a month, and one of whom the past year made $14,000. 

The writer knows a number of prominent men who have been cured, among them Hon. Dossey BATTLE, formerly of Tarboro, and Capt. Swift GALLOWAY, of Greene, two splendid gentlemen, with whom many of our readers well acquainted.  In Greene county eighteen have taken the treatment, and only one is known to have resumed drinking. 

The Institute has hundrends of letters from grateful patients who have been permanently cured of this terrible addition, but Col. OSBORN says, the names of patients are never mentioned without their full consent.  He gave us a handbook with recent letters from any number of people who have been permanently cured.  Col. OSBORN says that he is not antoagonistic to physicians, among whom he has many friends, who bring or send patients to the Institute.  In fact, he says, over 20 percent of the patients have been physicians. 

President OSBORN stated that many persons are treated for neurathenia or nerve exhaustion – people run down by business cares, etc.  The treatment is a cure for that as well as for the liquor, opium, morphine and narcotic drug diseases and the tobacco habit.  The treatment for all of the above, though differing according to the disease and the patient’s condition, is based on the double chloride of gold. The patient as soon as he arrives at the Institute is given a thorough examination by competent physicians and the treatment is administered with the utmost possible science. 

Asked if ladies were treated, Col. OSBORN said a good many were; that the Institute has elegant quarters for ladies.  He added that the treatment of ladies was generally for the morphine habit.  Asked if ladies could go to the Institute without publicity being given to it, Col. OSBORN replied most emphatically that they could; that ladies or gentlemen can take the treatment at Greensboro without anyone knowing it unless they tell it themselves. 

Col. OSBORN said that his Institute had treated patients not only from this State but from South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland and many other states.  The Keeley cure is endorsed by the United States government, by its action on placing the Keeley in the National Soldiers’ Home and regular army poets. The virtue of the Keeley cure is shown in the fact that there have sprung up hundreds of limitations, most of which, however, have met an early and merited death. 

In North Carolina hundreds of rescued sufferers from the diseases of alcohol <…> glad testimony in behalf of the Keeley cure, acknowledging the peace and joy which it has brought to blighted home and <…>riven hearts. 

The Free Press was glad to see and talk with Col. OSBORN, who knows from personal and other experience of what he is advocating.  He is thoroughly in earnest.  The Free Press fully believes that he is doing a noble work, in which we wish him continued and greater success.  We would be glad if more people from this section would take the treatment, as we believe it will enable any person who desires to quit drinking to do so. 

We will close with an extract from a handbook handed us by Col. OSBORN concerning the enemies and friends of the treatment.   The enemies of the Keeley cure are those who do not properly understnad it; those who ignore proprietary medicines not admitted by the medical code, and who place all such remedies under the ban of quackery. 

“Another class of enemies are those who are so blinded by their diseased condition, so wedded to their god of drink or drug that they turn away from those who suggest relief, and reject the only means offered for the destruction of their very life’s destroyer.  To this latter class all hearts turn in pty, and undo the <…> of this blessed double chloride of gold remedy have gone, at the risk of pang and sacrifice, to tell the story of restoration and reclamation; to paint the picture of the happiness and beauty of a life free from the disease that consumes physical and moral being alike, standing once again in the dignity of a perfect stature with an unfitted will. 

“It’s friends are those who do not jest at scar, because they have felt a wound.  Men and women whose vital forces were once sapped, and whose moral natures were perverted by the indulgence of their distored appetite, are today honored members of society, restored to health and strength and to their families and friends through the medium of th great Keeley cure.  Strong in mind and healthy in body, they point their fellow creatures to the same fountain of blessing with a feeling of gratitude and praise. 

“In addition to these the most eminent clergymen in the land, the most broadminded citizens, the most devoted workers in the cause of temperance reform, and hosts of noble Christian women, have not only publicly endorsed it, but have labored most assiduously to promote its success in the reclamation and rehabilitation of their unfortunate neighbors and friends.”