Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1895-09-27

DIR. A.
child from spinal meningitis, and
when he saw her lying dead be-
fore him. be declared medicine a
fraud. Doctors had surely been
all these years pursuing the wrong
theory.
He began to study anatomy
anew; not from textbooks, but
from nature. He was then living
on the frontier Of Kansas, and
robbed Indian graves for subjects.
Indian after Indian was disinter-
red and dissected, and the organ
ism studied more minutely than is
done in college. From the closest
stud y of the human body in every
form he reached the conclusion
that lack of blood-supply was the
cause of large percentage OF dis
eases. By experimenting with
living and dead subjects he dis
covered that this wonderful piece
of mechanism called the body
could be manipulated at will by a
skillful operator; that the organs
could all be regulated by manipu-
lation much better than by drugs.
He asserts, for instance, that ma,
ture has implanted in the human
body castor-oil in the form of gall,
and in cases where physc is usu-
ally given, he claims that it is only
necessary to open the gall-duct by
manipulation, and better results
are obtained than with medicine.
He learned that dislocated rib
might produce heart disease, and
that dislocation in the shoulder
might produce rheumatism in the
hand or wrist, or that an obstruct.
ed vein might produce cancer.
About twenty years ago, when
his science was in its infancy, he
removed to Missouri and settled
at his present home, Kirksville,
where he continued his studies and
experiments. He was supposed
to be a magnetic healer, or faith
doctor, and was made the butt OF
ridicule. In a quiet, unassuming
manner he pursued his investiga.
tions, and about ten years ago an
nounced his new science.
He was regarded as a crank,
and for years his theories did not
even receive local attention. His
location in the quiet little Missou-
ri town was a wise selection for
his purpose. He was, to some ex-
tent, retired from medical critics,
who might have antagonized his
plans before they were perfected.
But patients to practice upon were
scarce. Life Is too sacred to be
risked in an experiment. Among
some of the poorer and more ig-
norant, however, he found few
willing to subject themselves to
his method of treatment.
Reports were soon circulated
that DR.. Still had performed mi
raculous cures, but the incredu-
lous, even of his own town, scout
ed the idea. He was very poor.
and at one time, according to his
statement, could not have got
credit for FIVE dollars in Kinks
vile, where his check to-day
would be honored for half mill
ion. His family was large, his
expenses great; yet amid every
adversely he steadily pursued his
investigation. He took frequent
tours through the country, occa-
slonally lecturing on the new art
of healing, and practicing where
he could. His hearers and pa
tients were usually poor and ig-
norant, and their reports of his
success attached to him a super
natural power, which went further
to convince the intelligent that he
was humbug.
The first case which brought
him into prominence and favora-
BILE notice in his own town was
the daughter of a prominent min
lister in the city. The young lady