The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-28

| in the neck may impinge upon or in
| terfere with the pneumogastric nerve
| tthe 10th craniaD and this could af-
| feet the ear. larynx, pharynx, ocso-
phagus, heart, pulmonary apparatus,
stomach. or liver for this nerve Is dis
| tributed to all those organs.
| Probably nne-tenths of the diseases
we are called upon to treat have their
| origin in some spinal lesion, and by
| lesion we mean any abnormal con-
dition that exists. There are thirty
| one pairs of nerves on either side OF
| the spinal column that cmanate from
| the spinal cord, constituting the Cerc-
| bro-spinal system, and these are init
| matcly connected and correlated with
| the sympathetic system situated on
either side and in front of the vertc-
| bral column. These thrty-onC pairs
| of nerves come out from the spinal
| column through these holes foramina)
| on either side. You will notice that
| the holes are not through the bone
| of the vertcbrac, but half of the hole
| is in the bone above and half in the
| one below. Now, in the normal condi-
| tion these spinous processes of the
| vertebrae Indicating same) are in
perfect alignmcnt-not always
| straight line, for we have a very ncN-
| iblc spine, composed as ii is of twen-
ty-siX separate bones, but always in
| the same relative pOsition-eithcr
| straight or in symmetrical curve.
| And as long as this normal position
obtains you see the foramna or holes
on either side, for the nerves are al
| ways the same. Now, let us twist
this vertebra out of alignment by sbov-
| ing the spinous process to the right
| and holding the ones above and below
| in their normal position You see at
once the effect on the foramina formed
| by the misplaced vertebrate enlargcs
| the holes on the right side, but COM
| presses the ones on the left. This
| compression squeezcs or mpingcs upon
| the nerves as they emanatC from the
cord at that point and thus interfcres
| with the normal functions of the or
gan or organs that get their nerve sup
ply from that particular region. 1t
may or may not cause pain or soreness
| in that region of the spine-depend-
| ing on the nature of the pressure
| and whether or not it affects the re-
| curing branches of the nerves that
| supply the muscles and integument
| there. And a lesion of that kind may
| effect the visCcral organs controlled
| from that centre in different ways
| II ii causes a constant friction to the
| nerves, then we have stimulation and
| consequent hypcr-aCtivity of their
| function. or if ii results in steady pres.
| sure then ii cuts off the nerves
| functional activity and we have slug
| giShness, torpidity and inactivity Of
| the organs and parts which should
| get their innervation from that spinal
| centre. Then, too, Il slight detection
| OF Nertcbra or rib can interfere with
| the blood flow through the spinal
branches of the posterior divisions of
| the intercostal arteries, and thus pre-
| vent certain nerve cells in the spinal
cord from receiving their proper nutri-
| ton. This could result in acnemia
| OF the spine, or various other phases
| OF spinal diseases. OF course if the
| dlSlocation were cOmplctc-so that it
| brought pressure upon the spinal
| cord, it would result in parapleGia or
| paralysis of parts below the lesion
| bul these slight miSplacementS-such
| as | have just illustrated to YOU on
| TINS spine, are the cause of nearly all
| or the chronic troubles we have to
| deal with, as Indigestion. dyspepsia
| bllilousness, heart, lung, uterine trou-
| bleS-ln fact all forms of functional
| disorder. If the lesion is in the region
of some of the principal vasomotor
| centres of the spine mcrves which
| control directly the circulation of the
| blood by regulating the calibre of the
| Grterics), then we have a generally dis
| turbed circulation resulting in conges-
| ton, h'adaches, heat flashes, etc."
| But, doctor" said ], what causes
so many misplacoments and nal posi-
| tions AS you picture to us?"
There are various causes for these
| conditions, sprains, blows, strains,
| falls, cOntusions of all kinds, colors-
| in fact any agency that can result
| III muscular COntracture. There are
| five layers of muscles on the back
| some thirty-Onc pairs in all and these
| all attach in one way or another to
| tho spinal COlumn-either to this spin-
| Gus process, transverse process, or
| some other part. Let us say for in
| stance a cold settles in muscle or
| set OF muscles along one side OF the
| spine. These muscles. of course. con-
| tract, and as they do so they become
| tense and gradually draw their bOny
| attachment out of proper position, for
| the muscles on the opposite side will
gradually relax to accommodate them
| selves to the strained position. If this
| contracture Is In a superficial muscle
| or one that is easily stretched or
worked by voluntary effort, the wearer
| of 1t Will himself correct the trouble
| But If not, then the condition of con-
| fracture becomes chronic, and through
| II effects a chronic displacement, which
| in turn causes a chronic disease which
| requires an external agency Uhe osteo-
| pathic physician) to correct. When we
| thus remove the cause, the recupera-
| tive powers of nature will take care
| of the symptoms, l spoke of cold as
| one of the causes of muscular con-
| fracture. We often take cold" this
| way without any sign of il I'm the head
! or throat. i can take a bellows with
| very cold air and blow 1t upon the
| muscles on one side of your neck and
| inside of minute you'll find II almost
| impossible to turn your head. 1t
stands to reason that cold and damp
ness that will warp boards and con-
tract even steel and iron. will affect a
delicative sensitive tissue like muscu-
| lar fibre"
Here the boy patient was announced
and the doctor introduced him in the
treating room Having him remove
coat and vest and collar, hr asked him
to lie first upon his right side up III,
treating table. lie explained that the
trouble I'm this case was one of gem
eral muscular rheumatism, poor circu-
| latlOn with C"'r"nu nervousness and
constant ! .. ,H,n.. caused principally
by ma" .nIsCu,aI CORRECTIONS in var
| iOIS @. and our I, inaI sninaI Ios