William D. Kelly to Woodrow Wilson

Title

William D. Kelly to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Kelly, William D.

Identifier

WWP16345

Date

1921 June 20

Source

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

Language

English

Text

Hattiesburg. Miss.

Mr. Woodrow Wilson
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. Wilson

On Nov. 2nd 1915 I had a complete nervous break down which brought about a deplorable condition of both mind & body. I was so weak I could not set up long at a time & I had the worst case of insomnia that any person ever had. It seemed at times that my legs would drop from my body & I had to hold them with my hands to get relief. My bladder was badly involved had to void my urine many times through the day and night. I consulted the best doctors in the state of Texas where I was born & lived until the war came on. They told me that I had had a complete nervous break down & that there was no medicine or remedy known to science that would cure such a condition. They advised abundant rest, baths, diet, no worry & so on. My Father and Mother both died in 1918 and I left Texas soon after their deaths in search of health hopeful all the time of finding a physician who could cure me but as time passed and after consulting many fine doctors of many places I became convinced that the Texas doctors knew what they were talking about when they said there was no known cure for nervous troubles. On the , I arrived here, at my sisters, in Hattiesburg & the next day I was stricken with Sciatica & came near dying. I suffered agony and was without hope until 78 days ago. I commenced to think for myself & an idea occurred to me which I followed up with astonishing results. It occurred to me that if I would apply a certain remedy to the base of my brain & spinal column that I would derive some benefit therefrom. I applied this remedy as above stated and rubbed it well in over my kidneys & I applied it to the glands in each groin. That very night I did not have to void my urine but one time and in a few days I noticed that my mind was much clearer & more steady. I soon noticed that I was much stronger and my insomnia left me like a dream & I have now been able to sleep like a babe for 78 nights without the aid of a single drop of medicine a thing I thought would be impossible in my case forever. This simple local treatment has worked a miracle for me & I want to help every one in the world who suffers from any kind of nervous disorders. I would be very glad to come & talk this matter over with you & apply this treatment to you just as I do to myself for I feel sure you will derive great benefit therefrom. I believe it will prove beneficial in paralysis for I can contract the muscles of my abdomen & back as I never could before & the sciatica has passed away entirely. If you will send me a ticket over the Southern Ry from here to Washington I will gladly come to you and we will go into this matter together. You will be astonished at your improvement in just two weeks time. If you had a nervous breakdown you are not much better than you were months back but I declare there is much hope for you and I believe you can entirely regain your former health & condition. Now, of course, you would like to know whether I am truthful and honest or not. I will ask that you phone Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas & ask him if he would trust the word of WD Kelly of Jefferson, Tex. You have trusted other Texans trust just one more one time and I believe you will soon be glad of it. I await your reply with anxiety.

Yours Very Truly,

Wm D. Kelly.
#703 Hall Avenue.
Hattiesburg. Miss.

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/D00330.pdf

Citation

Kelly, William D., “William D. Kelly to Woodrow Wilson,” 1921 June 20, WWP16345, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.