| O S T E O P A T H Y |
The science of osteopathy was discovered by Dr. A.T. Still of Kirskville, Missouri in 1874. It is the science and
art of curing without the use of the knife or drugs. Osteopathy is based on an accurate knowledge of the
anatomical structure and physiological functions of the body organism.
Nature has placed within the body certain vital forces, vitalized fluids and vitalizing processes and activities, which
in harmonious accord with one another maintain the equilibrium of the body. Any disturbance of these forces,
fluids or processes and any interference with their activity invokes the absence of harmony and interferes with the
body order.
Osteopathic manipulation aims to restore these normal conditions so that the body may
regain its normal function. Osteopathy demands a most thorough knowledge of anatomy
or structure of the human body. It requires an intimate acquaintance with the tissues, fluids
and organs of the body. Add to this a comprehensive study of psychology or the workings
of the mind. It also includes knowledge of the chemistry and physics of the human mechanism.
By studying and experiments, osteopathy claims to have discovered certain laws of nature
and methods of cure within the body. By application of these methods, nature can remove the
disease and cause the body to again regain its health and strength. This occurs in accordance
with certain mechanical principles residing in the body.
Osteopathy regards the body as a wonderful mechanism and treats it as an intelligent machinist would treat a
complicated machine with which he was perfectly familiar. The human body is regarded as being perfect.
Disease is regarded as simply disorder. To restore health, the diseased part must be corrected.
Osteopathy believes the giving of drugs for the cure of human ills to be unreliable. It regards the whole system
of drug treatment as unnatural and destructive to health. The osteopath does not look upon disease as a
definite enemy which must be attacked by some foreign force. Disease is regarded as a disorder of the normal
structure of a part, causing some disorder of the normal function of the body.
Osteopathy endeavors to discover and correct all mechanical disorders in the human machine and to direct the
recuperative power of nature within the body to the cure of the disease. It claims that if there is an unobstructed
nerve and blood supply to and from all parts of the well-fed man, the effects called disease will surely disappear.
The treatment is by manipulation. According to Dr. A.T. Still, exciting the nerves causes muscles to contract and
compress venous flow of blood to the heart. The bones can be used as levers to relieve pressure on nerves,
veins and arteries. Treatment is chiefly by manipulation of the spinal column and adjustments of subluxated,
dislocation, of the vertebra.
The object of osteopathy is to permit a perfect freedom of all fluids, forces and substances pertaining to life. It
endeavors to restore the harmonious action of all parts. It aims to maintain the complete circuit of the motor,
sensory and sympathetic nerves.
The cause of disease according to osteopathy may be dislocated or subdislocated bone, ligament, cartilage or
muscles, causing irritation of a nerve fiber or an obstruction of an artery, vein, lymphatic or some fluid of the body
which the affected nerve or vessel is disturbed or connected.
Osteopaths seek to discover the cause of disease.
Conditions are normally summarized as:
1) Misplacements of bone, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, membrane or organs
2) Disturbances in the fluids of the organism, including the blood, the lymph and other
secretions.
3) Disorders or derangements by tension, impingement, thickening, etc. of the nervous
system.
The therapeutic treatment will consist of:
1) Scientific manipulations that aim to correct displacements in the bone and other tissue
structure, membranes and organs of the body.
2) Scientific manipulations that are designed to rectify the disturbances in the circulation on the
body fluids and to restore them to their normal condition, especially blood conditions and
defects in the blood circulation and distribution.
3) scientific manipulations that realign the nervous system and its fibers, with toning up the
general system of its local parts.
The mode of treatment is a scientific manipulation by which the dislocation is reduced. Every move made in the
treatment is with a definite purpose of correcting the anatomical disorders.
