Ep 2. Alcoholic Antidote

In season 10 episode 2 of Mysteries at the Museum, titled "Alcoholic Antidote," viewers are taken on a journey through history to learn about the surprisingly important role that a once-popular patent medicine played in the fight against alcoholism. Host Don Wildman leads the charge as the episode delves into the origins of this potent elixir and the controversy surrounding its use.

The episode kicks off with a glimpse into the mind of an early 20th-century doctor who is desperately seeking a cure for alcohol addiction. Despite the best efforts of temperance advocates and religious groups, alcoholism was a rampant problem in America at the time, and traditional methods of treatment had proven largely ineffective. Enter the unlikely hero of our story: a small bottle of what was once known as "Grape-Nuts" extract.

As Wildman explains, Grape-Nuts was originally marketed in the late 1800s as a breakfast cereal made from wheat and barley. However, its inventor, a man named Charles William Post, quickly discovered that the residue from the cereal-making process had medicinal properties when boiled down into a syrupy liquid. Post began peddling this tonic under the name "Postum," claiming that it could cure a wide range of ailments from insomnia to dyspepsia.

Despite its lack of scientific backing, Postum became wildly popular and spawned a slew of imitators in the patent medicine market. However, it was the version developed by a businessman named Leslie Keeley that would change the course of history. In the late 1800s, Keeley began experimenting with different formulas for a cure for alcoholism, eventually landing on a mix of Grape-Nuts extract, bichloride of gold, strychnine, and other ingredients. He dubbed his concoction "Keeley's Gold Cure" and opened treatment facilities throughout the country.

At this point, the episode takes viewers on a tour of one of these facilities as it existed in the early 1900s. We learn about the strict rules that patients were subjected to and the often-brutal treatments they endured in the name of "curing" their addiction. However, despite the questionable tactics employed by these clinics, they did see some success in helping people break free from alcoholism. Wildman speaks with experts in the field who weigh in on the efficacy of Keeley's treatment and the influence it ultimately had on the medical profession.

As the episode progresses, we learn more about Keeley's life and the controversies that surrounded his methods. His clinics were eventually shut down due to charges of fraud, and he died a relatively unknown figure. However, his legacy lived on through the widespread use of Grape-Nuts extract as a key ingredient in many alcoholism treatments throughout the early 20th century.

The episode concludes with a look at how far we've come in the fight against addiction and the role that science now plays in developing evidence-based treatment methods. While Keeley's "cure" may seem like a primitive and misguided approach by today's standards, it serves as an important reminder of just how desperate people were for a solution to the devastating effects of alcoholism.

In all, "Alcoholic Antidote" is an intriguing and thought-provoking episode of Mysteries at the Museum that sheds light on an often-overlooked chapter of American history. Through fascinating archival footage, expert interviews, and Wildman's signature storytelling style, viewers are transported to a different time and given a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped our nation.