The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-20


combination of causes, that produce
the inflrmity. and restoration to
health follows as a natural conse-
quence.
My purpose in writing is to make
our principles plain to the ordinary
layman, the demands Of whose voca-
ton in life, preclude his giving much
time or study to subjects germane to
chiropractic methods. feel impelled
to begin with our basic principles, that
the reader may acquire a thorough
knowledge Of our philosophy; and as
leading the way to the discussion, I
deem it opportune to give a brief re-
view Of the anatomy and physiology Of
the human organism, simply as a re-
minder Of what wonderfully complex
piece Of mechanism man is.
The Human Skeleton.
This constitutes the frame work of
the body, and Is composed of more
than 200 bones, varying in size and
shape according to their location and
function. They are firmly bound to-
gether and held in place, by strong
bands Of fibrous tissues, called liga-
ments. These ligaments are Of differ
ent sizes and strength adapted to the
sufficiently elastic to yield when the
joints are moved.
To protect the bones from rubbing
against one another at the joints, the
ends are covered with thick fibrous
tissue called cartilage. The surface of
this cartilage is smooth and glistening,
and supplied with an oily fluid that
lubricates the joint thus preventing
friction.
This bony skeleton gives general
outline to the body-serves as a sup
| port for the softer portions-protects
| many important and delicate organs
from injury-and affords surface Of at
tachment for the muscles that produce
the various movements Of the body.
The entire aggregation Of bones, con-
stituing the skeleton have been divid-
ed by anatomists as follows:
l. Bones Of the head numbering %.
| 2. Bones of the trunk numbering S.
| 3. Bones Of the upper extremities
numbering 81.
| 4. Bones Of the lower extremities
numbering 81.
! TO arrive at a practical understand
Ing of this wonderfully complicated
human machine, the first division that
logically and naturally demands oul
consideration Is
Tho Trunk.
This comprises:
l. The spinal column or back bone
2. The ribs, "a in number.
3. The breast bone (Sternum),
4. Bone at root Of tongue (Hyoid)
The spinal column in infancy con.
sists Of series Of SO bones called YER.
tibrae. They are so united as to form
a flexible column which serves as 6
centre with which all the other bone.
Of the frame work are connected. A.
the infant grows, the virtibrae from
the 25th to the 18th, inclusive, unite
Into one large borne (the saerum)
and the bones, from the Both to tn,
33rd, inclusive, unite into one slender
one (the coccyx); so that in the adul
person the spinal column consists Of ,
series of rs bones. being "a vertibrae
one sacrum, and one cocyx.
Between each of these bones or YER
tibraes is interposed an elastic carti
lage which has the effect of RENDERING
the whole spine flexible ana movable
This eltsic cartilage Is 80 yielding dur
ing the day. that we are shorter q
night than in the morning after ,
nights rest has taken a part Of tn
pressure off.
AS already stated with regard t.
bones In general, the vertibrates ar
bound together in the column b,
strong flexible ligaments. These bone
or vertibrae are smaller at the ton O
the column and larger at the lowe
part. Though they differ in certai1
minor details they may be said t
practically resemble each other. The,
are so irregular In form that I shall
not attempt a. description Of them a
this time. There is an opening in tn
centre of each one, so that when al
come together q canal is formed Il
which is placed the spinal cord-th
great cylinder OF nerve matter tina
has to do In directing tho movements
feelings and energies Of the entir
body. In each Of the verttbraes Their
are also openings, which when tn
bones are in place, form channels tina
give safe passage to blood vessels. Be
tween the certibrae are small inter
slices, known as foramina, which Civ,
passage to the nerves that emerge from
| the spinal column and are distribute,