The Athena press., February 07, 1908, Image 6

How I Come to Originate
Osteopathy
By Andrew T. Still, in January Ladies' Home Journal
My first awakening to the principles which today have culminated M
the science called "Osteopathy" was made when I was about 10 years old.
I was a boy on my father's farm in Macon County, Missouri. I was subject
to sick headaches, and while suffering from one of these attacks one day
I was instinctively led to make a swing of my father's plow-line between
two trees. My head hurt too much to make swinging comfortable. I let
the line down to .within eight or ten inches of the ground, threw the end
of a blanket on it, and lay down on the ground, using the lines for a
swinging pillow. To my surprise I soon began to feel easier and went
to sleep. In a little while I got up with headache and fever gone. ThU
discovery interested me, and after that, whenever I felt my headache spells
coming on, I would "swing my neck," as I called It.
The next incident which gave me cause for thought occurred when
I contracted dysenteryi or flux, with copious discharges mixed with blood.
There were -chilly sensations, high fever, backache and cold abdomen. It
seemed to me my back would break, the misery was so great. A log was
lying In my father's yard. In the effort to get comfort I threw myself across
It on the small of my back and made a few twisting motions, which proba
bly restored the "misplaced bones to their normal position, for soon the pain
began to leave and my abdomen began to get warm, the chilly sensation dis
appeared, and that was the last of the flux.
Mill Machinery Aroused My Interest i Human Machinery.
My father, as a pioneer, was a farmer, a mill owner, a minister and a
doctor. I studied and practiced medicine with him..
Pioneer life on a western farm In those days was one in which all the
inventive powers one might possess were given ample chance to show forth.
-Nearly all the farm machinery had to be made by hand and on the farm.
There was very little to buy, and less money to buy it with. My father had
a grist and saw mill run by water, In the working of which I became very
much interested. Later I bought an Interest In a steam sawmill, and took a
course of Instruction In milling machinery for practical purposes.
As I studied this mill and machinery I got my first clear 'idea of the ma
chinery of the human being. My mind invariably associated and compared the
machinery of the mill with the machinery of the human being: with
the drive-wheels, pinions, cups, arms and shafts of the human, with
by pressure I could push some of the hot to the cold places, and by so doing
adjust the bones and set free the nerve and blood supply to the bowels. On
this basis of reasoning I treated the child's spine, and told the mother to
report the next day. She came the next morning with the news that her child ,
was well.
There, were many cases of flux in the town at that time and Shortly
after, and the mother telling of my cure of the child brought a number of
cases to 'me. cured them all by my own method and without drugs. These
began to stir up comment, and I soon found myself the object of curiosity
and criticism.
Why I started tlie American School of Osteopathy.
Another case which X was asked to see brought upon me still further
criticism. A young woman was suffering with nervous prostration. All hope
had been given up by the doctors, and the family was so told. After a num
her of medical councils her father came io me and said: 'The doctors say
my daughter cannot live. Will you step In and look at her?" I found the
young woman in bed, and from the twisted manner -in which her head lay I
suspected a partial dislocation of the neck. On examination I found this to
be true. one of the upper benes of rer neck was slipped to one side, shutting
off, by pressure, the vertebral artery on its way to supply the brain. In four
hours after I had carefully adjusted the bones of her neck she was up and
out of bed. " .... y j JJ
I went through those interesting yet trying days deaf to criticism and
comment. I worked alone, studying, investigating, experimenting.
Gradually people began coming to me in increasing -numbers, and soon
I found that my practice was beginning to grow beyond, the limits of my
Htrength. Several persons, seeing my increasing practice, now began to urge
me to teach them a knowledge of the practical workings of my discovery.
In the early nineties I concluded to teach others the principles that underlay
my drugless work. I realized that I must have hel por break down. I had
four sons and one daughter, able-bodied young people, and, the thought came
t: me to educate them in this science In order that they could assist me in
my work.
I employed the best talent that I could find to teach them anatomy, phy
siology and chemistry, teaching them, myself, the principles and practice of
my own science. After my school had been in running order a- short time
other became interested and asked permission to Join, and the class increas
ed in numbers. At the end of the first year I had some students who were
able to help me in a way, and in the course of two years I really had assist
ance. 'This was the origin of what is known today as, the American School
of Osteopathy. .
With the organization of the school came, of course, the necessity of a
name to designate the science, and I chose "Osteopathy." I reasoned that
the bone, "osteon," was the starting point from which I was to ascertain the
cause of pathological conditions, and I combined the "osteon" with "pathy."
So "Osteopathy," sketched briefly, was launched upon the world.
Many people naturally ask: What is Osteopathy?
SUMMONS. ,
American School of Osteopathy, at Kirksville, Missouri. ' Dr. A. T. Still, Founder of Osteopathy.
their forces and supplies, framework, attachment by- ligament
and muscle, the nerve and blood supply. "How" and ''where"
the motor nerves receive their power and motion, how the sensory and nutri
ent norvew act in their functions, their source of supply, their work done in
health, In the parts obstructed, parts and principles through which they pass
ed to perform their dutels of life all this study In human mechanics awoke
with new vigor within me. I believed that something abnormal could be
found which, by tolerating a temporary or permanent suspension of the blood
In arteries or veins, would produce the effect which was called disease.
With this thought In mind came such questions as: What Is disease?
What is fever? Is fever an effect or is it a being as is commonly described
by medical authors? I took disease to be an effect, experimenting and
proving the position, being sustained each time by Nature's response in the
affirmative.
Early in the sixties I took a course of Instruction in the Kansas City School
of Physicians and Surgeons', studying such branches as were taught in the
medical schools of that day. I took up the regular practice of an allopathic
physician. , I was called a good doctor.
v "The Proper Study of Mankind Is Mail."
During all this time I had devoted a large part of my time to the study of
"anatomy, which attructed me strongly. I read every book on the subject I
could get hold o but my chief source of study was the book of Nature. I
found myself more and more believing thut "the proper study of mankind Is
mnn." and the best method to pursue it is to dissect and study the body itself.
Tho thinning of wild animals In my youth brought me into contact with mus
cles, nerves and veins.
The skeletons of the Indians were my next study In bones, and I went on
iuaktng numberless experiments with bones untll I became very familiar with
(lie entire bony structuro of the human body. Finally, I tried an experiment
of my own: I made u picture or chart of the bones of the whole body, then
ctooU blindfolded, or with my back to a table. A bone would be handed to
ine by an assistant. I would take It in my hands and by the "feel" of it
would name it and direct whore it should be placed on the chart (right or
left). I carried this on to the extent even of the smallest bones of the hands
uid feet and those of tho spine, until tho chart was filled in complete. This I
Uied to do over and over again. For not less than twelve months I studied
bones alone, before taking up Descriptive Anatomy, because I wanted to know
what a bone Is and Its use. I' became as familiar with every bone as I was
with the words "father" and "mother." Of course, al.thls meant untiring
work, and I have hardly expected my students to follow me over the entire
length of this portion of my road. Nevertheless, I believe as strongly today
na ever that the closer thev follow this road, the better for their patients.
They must study and know the exact construction of he human body, the
ixuct location of every bone, nerve, fibre, muscle and organ; the origin, yie
course and flow of nil the fluids of the body, tho relation of each to the
other and the functlou it Is to perform in perpetuating life and health. In
addition, they must have ability to enable them to detect the exact location of
any and nil obstructions to the regular movements of this grand machinery
of llf-, and supplement this ability with skill to remove all such obstructions.
F'-oir. this study In bones I went on to the study of muscles, ligaments,
tissues, arteries, veins, lymphatics and nerves.
I began now to feel that I waH Irresistibly headed for some road: what
road I niyseff knew not. Of one thing I was certain: I was getting farther
iiway from the use of medicines in the treatment of ills and alls. I was a
physician of the old school In name but not in fact
1 carried on my theories. I practiced them wherever I could find people
who -vould place confidence In me, until the Civil War came on. Then I
enisled and "went to thevfront."
On resuming my duties as a private citizen after the war I took up again
the stuiy and research of my all-absorbing topic: how to cure disease without
medicine, and on June 22, 1874, there came to my mind the first clear con
ception of the practical workings of what Is now known as the Science of Os
Jopnthy. This day I celebrate us Its birthday.
One of the First Cases 1 Treated,
In the autumn of 1874 I was given q chance to try my ideas on a case of
flux. I was walking with a friend on the streets of Macon, Missonri, in which
'town I was visiting, when I noticed in advance of us a. woman with three
children. I called my friend's attention to fresh blood that had dripped along
the street for perhaps BO yards. We caught up with the group and discovered
hhat tho woman's little boy, about four years old, was sick. - He road only a
eitllco dress on. and.-to my wonder and surprise, his legs and feet ivere cov
ered with blood. A glance was enough to show that the mother Was poor.
We Immediately offered our services to help the boy home. I picked him up
and placed my hand on the small of his back. I found It hot, while the abdo
men way told. The neck and the back of the head were also very wajrm and
the face nnd nose were cold. This set me to reasoning, for up to tht time
the most I knew of flux was that It was fatal In a great many cases. I had
r.ever before asked myself the question: What is flux? I began to reason
Jibout the spinal cord, which gives off Its motor nervea to the front of the
body, Its sensory to the back; but that gave no clew to flux. Beginning at
the base of the child's brain, I found rigid and loose places in tha muf teles and
ligaments of the whole spine, while the lumbar portion was very mtich con
gested tnd rigid. The thought came to me like a flash that there might be
a Utln or some partial dislocation of the bones of the spine or; ribs, nd that
Now What, Heally, Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is simply this: The law of human life is absolute, and I be
lieve that God has placed tho remedy for every disease within the material
house in' which the spirit of life dwells. 1 believe that the Maker of man has'
deposited in some part or throughout the whole system of the human' body
drug3 in abundance to cure all infirmities: that all the remedies necessary to
health are compounded within the human body. They can be administered
by adjusting the body in such manner that the remedies may naturally asso
ciate themselves together. And I have never failed to find all these reme
dies. At times some seem to be out of reach, but by a close study I always
found them. So I hold that man should -study and use only the drugs that
are found in his own drug-store that is, in his own body.
I do not believe, and I say this after forty years of close observation and
experiments,1 that, there are such diseases as fever typhoid, typhus or lung
rheumatism, sciatica, gout, colic,' liver disease, croup, or any of the. present so
called diseases. They do not exist as diseases.
' I hold that, separate or combined, they are only effects of cause, and
that, in each case, the cause can be found and does exist in the limited or
excited action of the nerves which control the fluids of a part or of the entire
body. My position Is that the living blood swarms with health corpuscles
which are carried to all parts of the body. -
Osteopathy is, then, a science built upon this principle: that man is a ma
chine, needing, when diseased, an expert mechanical engineer" to adjust its
machinery. It stands for the labor, both mental and physical, of the engi
neer, or Osteopath, who comes to correct the abnormal conditions of the
human body and restore them fo the normal. Of course, "normal" does not
simply mean a readjustment of bones' to a normal position in order that mus
cles and ligaments may with freedom play In their allotted places. Beyond
all this lies the still greater question to be solved: How and when to apply
the touch which sets free the chemicals t)f life as Nature designed?
Osteopathy to me has but one meaning, and "that is, that the plan and
specification by which man Is constructed and designed shows absolute per
fection lv. all its parts and principles. When a competent anatomist (as the
successful Osteopath must be), in treating the human body, follows this plan
and specification, the result will be a restoration of physological functions
from disease to health.
An Osteopath is only a human engineer who should understand a"H- the
laws governing the human engine and thereby master disease.
Osteopathy absolutely differs from massage."- The definition of "Mas
sage" is masso, to knead: shampooing of the body by special manipulations,
such as kneading, tapping, stroking, etc. The masseur rubs and. kneads the
muscles to increase the circulation. The Osteopath never rubs. He takes off
any, pressure on blood-vessels or nerves byl the adjustment of any displace
ment, whether it be of bone, cartilage, ligament, tendon, muscle, or even of
the fascia which enfolds all structures; also by relaxing and contracture of
the muscle or ligament due to displacements, to drafts causing colds, to over
work or nerve exhaustion. The Osteopath knows the various nerve-centers
and how to treat them, in order that the vasomotor nerves can act upon the
blood-vessels, bringing about in a physllogical manner a normal heart-action
and freeing up the channels to and from the heart. The Osteopath deals al
ways with causes, has no "rules of action," as such, but applies reason to
each case according to the conditions presented, treating no two cases quite.
alike. He knows from past experience that the effect seen is produced by a
cause with which he must deal in order to give relief.
The Osteopath is a physician. The masseur does not take the responsi
bility of the full charge of a diseased condition, but works under the direction'
of a physician, and has to do with effects, applying by rote to the body so
much rubbing, so much stroking, so much tapping, so much kneading, etc.,
there being definite rules laid down applicable to general cases.
Osteopathy is a science and an art also. It Includes a knowledge of an
atomy, biology, physiology, psychology, chemistry and pathology. Its thera
peutics arc independent and original and as extensive as the entire medical
and surgical fields. .'i t
Note On (he theory that the road which leads to discovery is always in
teresting, Doctor. Still was asked by the Editors of The Ladies' Home Journal
to tell the circumstances which Jed to his discovery of tho comparatively new
and growing medical school called "Osteopathy." Dr. Still, at tha age of
seventy-niue, lives at Kirksville, Missouri, whioh may be said to be the seat of
the new soboolTwhioh aims to treat human ills without medicine, as it is thete
that the chiefjinstitntion'of learning of the new medical sciouoe, the Ameri
can School of,Osteopathy,!is,located.
This month's Butterick Patterns
are 10c and ISc--none higher.
In the Circuit court of the State of
Oregon for Umatilla County. ,
L, A. Shellenberger, Plaintiff) BtrmmoD
v by
James a Dingman, Defend'! Publication
To James C. Dingbam, The Above
Named Defendant: In the came of
the State of Osegon, you are hereby
required and commanded to appear and
answer the complaint filed against yon
in the above entitled cause and court on
or before JTriday the 21st day of Feb
ruary, A. D. 1908, which said date is
the last day of the time prescribed in
the order for publication of summons
herein.
And yon will take notice that if yon
fail to appear and answer the said
complaint or otherwise plead thereto
within said time, the plaintiff, for
want thereof, will apply to the court
for the relief prayed for and demanded
therein; viz., for judgment against
yon in the sum of 1228.50 balance due
as prinoipal and interest . upon the
promissory note sued on, and for a de
cree foreclosing that certain mortgage
exeonted by yon to one John L. Bart
ley to secure payment of said note and
thereafter transferred, assigned and
endorsed together with said note to
plaintiff herein and wbioh said mort
gage is duly recorded in volume num
ber 33 at page 873 of the record of
mortgages for .Umatilla county, Ore
gon, and for a foreclosure sale of the
real property therein described as Lot
numbered 6, and the South half of lot
4 in block 8, and lot 5 and the south
half of lot 4 in block 10, all in Mo
Arthui's Addition to the City of Wes
ton, Umatilla County, Oregon, to sat
isfy said judgment and mortgage lion,
and for fifty dollars attorney fees, for
costs and disbursements, and for other
equitable relief.
This summons is published pursuant
to an order of the Hon. H. J. Bean,
Circuit Judge of the Sixth Judicial
District of Oregon, duly made and en
tered on the 6th day of January, A.
D. 1908, and will appear once a week
for six successive weeks, the first pub
lication being made on Friday the 10th
day of January, 1903 and the last one
on Friday the 2 let day of February,
1908. '
'. Peterson, Peterson & Wilson,
Attorneys for Plaintiff.
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