There really was a Gold Cure for alcoholism, cocaine addiction, and tobacco addiction. It was also known as The Keeley Cure, the Double Chloride of Gold Remedy, and the Bichloride of Gold Remedy. It was developed by former Civil War doctor Leslie Keeley, whose company existed from 1879 to 1965. During its heyday from 1880 to 1920 the Illinois-based institution operated 200 branches in the U.S., Canada, and Europe in which chemically dependent individuals spent four weeks 'taking the cure.' During the early 1890s, when the formula was reconfigured to be administered by hypodermic, the Institute enjoyed its greatest success, raking in millions each year. Although Keeley kept the ingredients secret an independent analysis in 1896 (the year this episode takes place) revealed that it contained strychnine, morphine, cocaine, ammonia, atropine, willow bark, cannabis, and... alcohol. One positive contribution made by the movement was its contention that alcoholism was a disease.