It is my object in this work to teach principles as I understand them, and not rules. I do not instruct the student to punch or pull a certain bone, nerve or muscle for a certain disease, but by a knowledge of the normal and abnormal, I hope to give a specific knowledge for all diseases.
This work has been written a little at a time for several years, just as I could snatch a moment from other cares to devote to it. I have carefully compiled these thoughts into a treatise. Every principle herein laid down has been fairly well tested by myself, and proven true.
The book has been written by myself in my own way, without any ambition to fine writing, but to give to the world a start in a philosophy that may be a guide in the future.
Owing to the great haste with which the book has been rushed through the press to meet the urgent demand, we will ask the indulgence of the public for any imperfection that may appear. Hoping the world may profit by these thoughts, I am,
Respectfully,
A. T. Still.
Kirksville, Mo., Sept. 1, 1899.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. Some Introductory Remarks. | |
|---|---|
| Not a Work of Compilation—Authors Quoted—Method of Reasoning—TheOsteopath an Artist—When I Became an Osteopath—Dr. Neal's Opinion—TheOpinions of Others—What Studies Necessary—What I Mean byAnatomy—Principles—The Practicing Osteopath's Guide—The Fascia—Not apleasing Task—Without Accepted Theories—Truths of Nature—Body, Motionand Mind—Osteopathy to Cure Disease—The Osteopath Should Find Health. | [11] |
| CHAPTER II. Osteopathic Explorations. | |
| Divisions of the Body—Searching for the Cause—Duty of the OsteopathicExplorer—Classification and Division—The Abnormal—NervePowers—Witnesses to Examine—Abnormal Growths—Cerebro SpinalFluid—Body in Perfect Health—Chemistry—Nature's Chemistry. | [29] |
| CHAPTER III. The Head. | |
| A Free Circulation—Death Blows—Something of the Neck—Order ofTreatment—The Pelvis—Brains of Animals—Arterial Motion—MentalVibrations—Overburdening the Mind—Hemiplegia. | [43] |
| CHAPTER IV. Ear Wax and Its Uses. | |
| Nature Makes Nothing in Vain—A Successful Experiment—A Question forAges—The Position—Meaning of Life—Some Questions Asked—Condition inCertain Diseases Caused by Cold—Cerumen in Fluid State—Winter KillsBabies—Some Advice to Mothers—A Case in Point—Connection of the brainand Other Nerves in Digestion—Unaided Investigation. | [53] |
| CHAPTER V. Diseases of the Chest. | |
| Where Confined—Consumption—Can Consumption Be Cured—ConsumptionDescribed—No Time for Surrender—Cerebral Spinal Fluid—How to DestroyDeadly Bombs of Decay—Battle of Blood for Life—MiliaryTuberculosis—Conversion of Bodies Into Gas—Forming aTubercle—Breeding Contagion—The Seeds of Disease—GeneratingFever—Whooping Cough—Clouds and Lungs Are Much Alike—The Wisdom ofNature—Water Formed in Lungs—The Law of Fives—Feeble Action ofHeart—The Heart—From Neck to Heart—Dyspersia or Imperfect Digestion. | [68] |
| CHAPTER VI. The Lymphatics. | |
| Importance of the Subject—Demands of Nature on theLymphatics—Dunglinson's Definition—Dangers of Dead Substances—LymphContinued—Solvent in Nature—Where Are the Lymphatics Situated?—TheFat and Lean. | [104] |
| CHAPTER VII. The Diaphragm. | |
| Investigation—A Struggle With Nature—Lesson of Cause andEffect—Something of Medical Etiquette—The Medical Doctor—An Explorerfor Truth Must Be Independent—The Diaphragm Introduced—A UsefulStudy—Combatting Effect—Is Least Understood—A Case of BiliousFever—A Demand on the Nerves—Danger of Compression—A Cause forDisease—Was a Mistake Made in the Creation—An Exploration—Result ofRemoval of Diaphragm—Sustaining Life in Principles—Law Applicable toOther Organs—Power of Diaphragm—Omentum. | [114] |
| CHAPTER VIII. Liver, Bowels and Kidneys. | |
| Gender of the Liver—Productions of the Liver—A Hope for theAfflicted—Evidences of Truth—Loaded With Ignorance—Lack of Knowledgeof the Kidney—How a Purgative Acts—Flux—Bloody Dysentery—Flux MoreFully Described—Osteopathic Remedies—Medical Remedies—More of theOsteopathic Remedy. | [138] |
| CHAPTER IX. The Blood. | |
| Uses for Fluids—Blood an Unknown Fluid—Harvey Only Reached the Banksof the River of Life—Blood Is Systematically Furnished—Fatality ofIgnorance—To Find the Cause Must Be Honest—Following Arteries andNerves—Feeding the Nerves—The Blood on Its Journey—Powers Necessaryto Move Blood—Venous Blood Suspended. | [149] |
| CHAPTER X. The Fascia. | |
| Where Is Disease Sown?—An Illustration of Conception—The GreatestProblem—A Fountain of Supply—Fascia Omnipresent—Connection withSpinal Cord—Goes With and Covers All Muscles—Proofs inContagion—Study of Nerves and Fascia—Tumefy—Tumefaction. | [161] |
| CHAPTER XI. Fevers. | |
| Be Armed With Facts—Union of Human Gases With Oxygen—Fever andNettle-rash. Nature Constructs for a Wise Purpose—Processes of LifeMust be Kept in Motion—No Satisfaction from Authors—AnimalHeat—Semeiology—Symptomatology—Definition of Fever—Fevers onlyEffects—Result of Stoppages of Vein or Artery—Aneurisms. | [175] |
| CHAPTER XII. Scarlet Fever and Smallpox. | |
| As defined by Allopathy—Scarlet Fever as Defined byOsteopathy—Smallpox—Power to Drive Greater Than in Measles. | [190] |
| CHAPTER XIII. A Chapter of Wonders and Some Valuable Questions. | |
| Wonders on the Increase—What Is Life?—How Is Action Produced—AcquaintYourself With the Machinery—Duty of the Osteopath—Formation ofSacrum—The Pelvis—Appearance of Œdema—Do All Diseases HaveAppearance in Œdema. | [193] |
| CHAPTER XIV. Has Man Degenerated? | |
| The Advent of Man—Care of the Stock Raiser—Mental Degeneration MakesIt Unpleasant for an Original Thinker—Original Thinkers of theAncients—Methods of Healing—Failure of Allopathy—PrimitiveMan—Evidences of Prehistoric Man—Mental Dwarfage. | [203] |
| CHAPTER XV. Osteopathic Treatment. | |
| Five Points—Visceral List—Care in Treating the Spinal Column—MostImportant Chapter—Perfect Drainage—A Natural Cure. | [213] |
| CHAPTER XVI. Reasoning Tests. | |
| The Vermiform Appendix—Operating for Appendicitis—Expelling Power ofthe Vermiform Appendix—Care Exercised in Making Assertions—ReasoningTests—A List of Unexplained Diseases—Concluding Remarks. | [223] |
| CHAPTER XVII. Obstetrics. | |
| Overloading—Similarity of Stomach and Womb—Births—Preparation forDelivery—Caution—Lasceration Need Not Occur—Care of Cord—SeveringCord—Putting on Belly Band—Delivery of Afterbirth—Preparing forMother's Comfort—Post-Delivery Hemorrhage—Treatment for—Food forMother—Treatment for Sore Breast. | [234] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. Convulsions. | |
| Old Phrases—Results of Stoppage of Fluids—Old Theory of Fits—What theReal Cause may be—Listen for the Cause—What is a Fit—Sensory SystemDemanding Nourishment—The Causes—The Remedy—Dislocation of Atlas andof the Four Upper Ribs. | [250] |
| CHAPTER XIX. Concluding Remarks. | |
| Thoughts for Consideration—Offering a New Philosophy—Lymphatics andFascia—A Satisfactory Experiment—Natural Washing Out. | [258] |
| CHAPTER XX. The Superior Cervical Ganglion. | |
| With What It Has Communication—Its Course—One of itsFunctions—Stimulation or Inhibition—Result Produced. | [263] |