The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-25
OSTEOPATHY.
What 1t Is, How Ii Is Practiced, and
the Results Achieved.

All Ialf-mlnd6u ana unpreJuulceu HeH can
judge for themselves whether it is a fake
or not. Osteopathy will bear honest investi-
CATION
The discoverer of this system of treating
disease is Andrew Taylor Still, NJ D., a
native of Virginia and formerly an allo-
pathic physician and surgeon in the Federal
army. Forty years ago. when residing and
practicing in Kansas, he realized the insult
t1ciency of the standard remedies and the
need of a more scientific method of healing.
In conversation with a friend at that time
he advanced the theory that the human body
is q machine, perfectly conducted by a
divine builder and if kept properly adjusted
capable of running its allotted time without
the aid of drugs. Some years afterwards
four of his children in succession died of
spinal meningitis Notwithstanding the best
skill of the medical schools and the faithful
use of prescribed remedies. This was a heavy
blow upon the bereaved father and further
weakened his faith in the efficacy of drugs.
He then resolved to cast aside the theories
of the schools and search nature alone for
the secret of health. Robbing Indian graves
for the purpose, he began to study anew the
mechanical structure of man, and by ex
perimenting with living and dead subjects
he found that the human body could be
manipulated at will by one who understood
its mechanism and that all organs could
be stimulated to perform their functions
normally much better by intelligent manip-
ulation than by drugs He gradually worked
out his theories by study and experiment;
as as last as ne learned how to apply It to any
away with drugs. Finally, after thirty years
of patient study and research, in 1885 he
abandoned the whole theory of materia
O SVStPmatiZo and
his new method in 1889 he announced that
he had at last perfected the system which
he called osteopathy, and that a college
would be founded to teach the new science.
But, like all other originators who have for
saken the beaten paths of science or art,
DIR. Still was long regarded as a visionary
and crank. His theory of healing was con-
sdered impractical if not preposterOus, and
for long time he struggled in poverty.
Charity patients formed his clientele almost
entirely, but the remarkable cures accom-
plished proved his best advertisements.
Gradually patients from the surrounding
country came to him, and his small office
was crowded. These in turn brought others,
until to-day there are four or five hundred
patients at Kirksville all the time who are
seeking relief by osteopathic methods. AS
his practice increased rapidly, DR.. Still was
compelled to build an infirmary which, was
erected in 1895 but, proving too small for
the growing demand, it was enlarged to its
present ample proportions, having accom-
modations for one thousand patients and
eight hundred students.
Osteopathy depends for it's success upon
a most thorough knowledge of the anatomy
and physiology of the human body having
for it's object the maintenance of complete
circuit of motor, sensory and sympathetic
nerves to and from all the organs and It's
sues, and the restoration of a harmonious
action which must ensue when all parts are
unirritated by any cause, permitting per-
feet freedom of all fluids, forces and sub
perfect being, a universe within itself, and,
being complete, has the recuperative power
of nature within 1t: If such were not the
case the human body would be incomplete,
man would be obliged to seek extraneouS
aid in the alienation of disease, and in
such instance the use of medical agencies
would probably be more of success. the
first step in osteopathic attainment is a
most exhaustive knowledge of the anatomi-
cal structures and the physiological rune
ton of the human body in its widest sense
Then is observed the fact that man is a
complete being capable OF performing ,hy, ms IrS
health; that disease is simply disorder, ana
to restore health necessitateS correction
In the restoration of health the osteopath
works entirely in harmony with nature, cor
recting disorders of mind and body purely
upon a physical basis through the app1ca-
ton of his advanced knowledge OF the laws
and principles of the human body, thereby
looking upon disease as some disorder OF
the normal function of the body, and not
as an entity to be attacked by some foreign
force which would only alleviate, antagonlze
or overshadow the real trouble. The patient
is examined from physical standpolnt.
Pathological conditions and symptoms are
used as clews to find the cause or disease.
Back of these signs and symptoms OF the
disease must be traced the origin of the
nerve supply and the course OF the blood
channels from the parts diseased 10 me
exact region or primary lesion causing the
abnormal condition. When the point or exact
cause of the diseased condition is located,
aid is given crippled nature IN re.estaoHES1h ,o
ing the normal activities of its forces. me
cause of the disease may be dlslocateu or
sophisticated bone, ligament, cartilage OF
muscle causing an inhlpltlon or lrrl ~. VI
abstraction
vein lymphatc some fluid or the pooys
thereby resulting in disorder TO the part OF
vessel is distributed. The mode OF treatment
is scientific manipulation by applying the
mechanical principle Whlch Is lholcateu III
each separate case. 1T
0steopathv has nothing in common with
faith cure, Christian science, spirltuansm'
hypnotism magnetic healing. SWedlSn move
ments mental science or massage. There Is
nothing supernatural about II. It's appar-
emily marvellous cures are accomplished
through purely scientlnc Id ~ sH its he
inc defeated in every State but one in Which
If has been practiced, as the Journal mas
been informed, five States namely, MlS Ss,ohi
Iowa Vermont North Dakota and M1cnl-
gan have passed bills legallZlng the prac,
flee Ohio and Pennsylvania 1aVor II; anu
the Governor of Illinois vetoed the Dill he,
galizine it in that State after 1t had passed.
both houses of the Legislature by gooo ma
jorities. $50 .,oo,,Ia CIV investi-
o ~ o ost Go to Kirksville, Mo-,
where YOU will find the great American
school of Osteopathy; take plenty or time
and 60 through the anatomical department eIrt
and listen to the lectures on anatomy, then
see the students at work on the cadavers.
listen to Professor Littejohn's lectures on
nhvsiology. then visit the chemical hlSto,
logical and pathological laboratories, anu
Won will be convinced that there are no peC-
Ter in the United States: The american
school employs men of ability to teacn at
an enormous expense, and they aoVeruse
r. teach nothing that is not taught
Now what are the narrow-minded, prelu-
diced M s going to do about our prac-
ticine, in this state? OF course, know there
are Come M DIS who are not that way;
and those M. Ds indOrse osteopathy anu
Welcome the practitioners OF that sclence
and urn over to them cases that ne says say,
him Himself he cannot reach. May be they can
etnn ite practice but ] don't beheVe I ny
osn When the thousands of people IN LnuIs
ona who know about the science; many vi
1tlboro have been cured by 1t When eVeLfy
otbCr method has failed, many VINO are SUI SUI
ferinp and want relief. stand up ana e DSs
for 'osteopathy, and when that 1aiis H Sa
f0r II how are they going to stop II: ~ ~
81 the neople of Indiana to investlSdIe 1 tLo
ea,e s1 IF osteopathy before they allow reg
Relation favoring the NJ DIS to put US Vu'
nf tbe businees BERT r NAL ~ "
Charlottesville, Ind, Nov. %.
oouI ment.