Still's loss sent him on a personal and professional search for the truth. He was driven to understand why some people became sick, and others remained healthy. The doctor grew to reject the prevailing medical practices of frequent amputation and the overuse of drugs. Still developed his methods of diagnosis and treatment by relying on the belief that the human being should be treated as a unit. A person cannot get sick in one area of his body without having other areas affected.
All body systems operate in unison.
Through experimentation and clinical observation, Still developed the art of osteopathic treatment, applied directly to the musculo-skeletal system. In addition, he eliminated many toxic drugs from his practice. Dr. Still settled in Kirksville, Missouri and began practicing the osteopathic medicine he had developed. His reputation spread, and soon people from all over the United States were travelling to Kirksville for his treatments. As his fame increased, an increasing number of doctors were drawn to Still and his methods.