Cause of Dis-ease
Chiropractic does not accept the theory that dis-ease is caused by extrinsic conditions. There may be a great variation in the environment and yet Innate Intelligence be able to maintain health. If there is sufficient interference with the transmission of mental impulses through the nerves, there will be dis-ease in the body regardless of the perfect environment that may be artificially produced. If the transmission is normal the individual may take the so-called dis-ease germs into his body and feel no ill effects for they will be excreted as so much waste material which can not be used in the metabolism of the body. But if there are subluxations which interfere with the transmission of mental impulses and reduce the process of excretion the tissues will become abnormal and proper culture media will be formed in which there will be developed the germs which act as scavengers for the purpose of destroying the waste matter which accumulates. The cause of dis-ease is within the body itself. The cause of dis-ease is interference with transmission of mental impulses from the brain to the periphery, thus preventing the organ from performing its full and normal function. This results in a lack of coördinate action between the organs of the body and interferes with the intellectual adaptation to external conditions.
The question may be raised at this time relative to the effects produced by the introduction of poison into the body and relative to germs being classed as poisons producing certain effects in the body.
We will not endeavor at this time to fully deal with these questions, for in order that the student understand thoroughly the chiropractic idea of these things, it will be necessary to study many points, both in connection with the hygiene and also with the philosophy of Chiropractic.
This point is thoroughly covered in the philosophy under the head of the Poison Cycle. We will simply state briefly here that a poison is anything which can not be used in the metabolism of the body and which, if allowed to remain in the body, will be carried to the tissue cells and do harm. In this event Innate will at once begin a process of elimination. If the channels of excretion are not normal and the organs are unable to do their work properly because of the interference with the transmission of mental impulses, it can readily be seen that the poison will be retained in the body and do harm. The character of the injury will be governed by the character of the poison retained.
Again, it is clearly explained in the philosophy how the introduction of poison into the body may produce subluxations and thus cause an interference with transmission and reduce the adaptative action on the part of Innate to the poison introduced. The student is referred to Volume V, Chiropractic Library, for further explanation on this point.
Sources of Communication
Generally speaking, there are two main sources whereby dis-ease is communicated: (a) man himself; (b) the animals. Almost all of the so-called communicable dis-eases of man are peculiar to man alone and are not found in animals except as they are communicated to them for experimental purposes. It is interesting to note that the lower animals are much more free from contagious dis-eases than man. As a matter of fact, the lower animals are seldom found to be infected. It is true that the domesticated animal is more susceptible to dis-ease than the wild animal living in the natural state.
Following is a list commonly given as communicable dis-eases peculiar to man and according to medical theory communicable from man to man. Even among those who accept this theory there is quite a difference of opinion as to the dis-eases that should be included in this list. Smallpox, chickenpox, cholera, leprosy, dengue, relapsing fever, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, infantile paralysis, typhus fever, yellow fever, malaria, syphilis, tuberculosis and typhoid fever. It is maintained by hygienists that the greatest source of infection is man himself. No longer is it thought that the environment is the main source of infection. It is believed by Rosenau and others that the water, soil, air and food may be the media conveying dis-ease from man to man; these, however, are not now considered as the main source of infection. Rosenau says, “Most of the microörganisms causing the communicable dis-eases of man are frail and soon die in our environment, as in the air, soil or water. Most of them are obligate pathogens and can not, or do not, grow and multiply under the adverse conditions of our environment.” And yet these frail little creatures are supposed to cause dis-ease in man. We wish the student to bear this in mind for we will have more to say in this respect later on.
It is sufficient to state here that the above named dis-eases maintained by some to be caused by germs are corrected by chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic has proven that instead of dis-ease being caused by the germ the germ is produced by the dis-ease.