Spinal treatment : auxiliary methods of treatment designed for the use of those who believe in and appreciate the true principle of progress in the healing art, namely, try all things with an open mind, and hold fast to that which is found to be good

Front matter

Hi!

m lite m

BgHk

Preface To First Edition

THE main object in view in the preparation of this volume has been to explain a special method of treatment and to place that method upon a scientific basis, since we feel that it will prove an important auxiliary to the present methods of the practitioners of the healing art, who have by an expenditure of time and money prepared themselves for their lifework of combating disease.

I am aware that many may differ with me in many of the statements made, before they have fully tested their correctness; also, that unintentional and unavoidable errors have crept into the text.

This work, especially the first section, is entirely along new lines of thought. Having no precedent, considerable repetition has crept in, and we find it very difficult to eradicate the same without the expenditure of much time; besides, the repetition will serve to impress many of the important fundamental principles; and we feel sure that this volume will be of great interest to any one of an investigating turn of mind.

We are too close upon the heels of such remarkable discoveries as the phonograph, the telephone, the aeroplane, and wireless telegraphy, to prejudge and criticise any new invention or discovery.

Before Edison's marvelous discovery and invention of the phonograph, who would have believed the possibility of reproducing the human voice from a machine? It is truly a marvel, but it is now an accepted fact.

Who, then, is sufficiently wise to say what the next great discovery is or will be? It may be in the healing art, and those who have investigated spinal adjustment declare that it is.

viii Preface to First Edition.

The author, during the past three years, has given himself almost wholly to an investigation of the merits of this science, that before, to him, were entirely unknown. In our research we have made it our primary object to test the merits of spinal adjustment as to its efficacy and potency as a means of relieving disease, both acute and chronic.

The confidence the author has gained in this method is based upon special relief and removal of some ailments in his own case and the results that he has obtained in testing it upon hundreds of others afflicted with many different ailments. Many of the results obtained have been indeed remarkable — in fact, almost incredible — and very far exceeded his most sanguine expectations.

It is the earnest desire of the author of this work to add an humble mite to the store of knowledge of the medical world, and to urge all physicians, whatever their school or training, to inspect this volume with the same spirit with which it has been prepared.

Many are losing confidence in the regular practice of medicine of to-day; many discrediting statements are made concerning the use of drugs. The following is quoted from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, forty years professor of anatomy in the Harvard University Medical School: "Mankind has been drugged to death, and the world would be better off, if the contents of every apothecary shop were emptied into the sea, though the consequences to the fish would be lamentable."

Dr. A. C. Bernays, M. D., of Marion-Sims College, St. Louis, Missouri, says: "To give drugs to a well man is very wrong, but to give drugs to a sick man is nothing short of a crime."

Dr. Evans, M. D., of Royal College, London, says: "The medical practice of to-day has neither philosophy nor common sense to commend it to our confidence."

Dr. J. B. S. Allyne, M. M., Barnes Medical College,

Preface to First Edition. ix

St. Louis, Missouri, says: "Of all branches of learning, medicine is the most uncertain. Physic is the art of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease."

The above quotations from men of our own ranks and of high standing therein are at least indicative of one important fact, and that is, that we have not yet reached a scientific and sufficiently successful system of treatment to command the respect of even our own profession, to say nothing of the failure of maintaining the full confidence of the laity.

It is no wonder that so many people are losing confidence in our professional efficiency, and no wonder so many charlatans live and prosper.

I am fully persuaded that we, as a professional medical body, owe it to our self-protection and the maintenance of our standing in the confidence of the laity, to live up to the true principle of progress in the healing art, viz., to "investigate every method of treatment that may accomplish good, with an open mind, and to hold fast to that which is found to possess true merit." This is the only method by which we will hold the confidence of the people. The best educated class of people to-day who offer to practice the healing art should possess every meritorious method, adjunct, or auxiliary that may be expediently and effectively employed.

We believe that any treatment that has merit, as a palliative or as a curative agency, should be known to the medical profession, who are educated and qualified, first, to understand its merits; second, to make a proper use of it; and third and lastly, to develop any adjunct of merit so as to increase the amount of its potency and also the usefulness thereof.

In the study and practice of this new system of treatment, we have found a solution for many things that were, to the author, unknown before.

Many questions are, to our mind, now fully explained x Preface to First Edition.

that before were mysteries, and for this reason we believe that a full explanation should be given to and enjoyed by the medical profession.

Hydrotherapy, the water cure, was first introduced and used by an uneducated class outside of the medical profession. Since the medical profession have adopted this treatment as an auxiliary method they have greatly improved the former procedures of hydrotherapy and made it a much more potent auxiliary.

One of the author's former teachers, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, of Battle Creek, Michigan, was dissatisfied when he graduated as a water-cure doctor, feeling that he knew entirely too little to offer his services as such. He applied himself diligently to the study of medicine, and after this educational preparation he has accomplished more than any other living physician in the development of hydrotherapy and its practical modes of application.

Electricity was used as a remedial agent by men outside of the medical profession, but afterwards it was accepted by the medical profession because it was found to possess some merit, and since then it has been by them wonderfully improved, and to-day is recognized as a remedial agency of practical utility, and is now in quite general use.

For the foregoing reasons, we believe that if the medical profession investigate the work of spinal adjustment, that this too will be added as another auxiliary, and we confidently believe that it will be the greatest adjunct that has yet been offered, especially after it has been in the hands of and improved by this intelligent and able body of physicians, who, we fully believe, will not fail to greatly develop and improve it.

We believe further that the spinal adjustment treatment in the hands of the ignorant (although the method is meritorious) will retrograde and fall, more or less, into disuse.

Preface to First Edition. xi

Should educated men outside of the medical profession espouse and uphold this method, they would establish and maintain another distinct system of healing at variance with all others, and an incomplete system, except surgery, obstetrics, and other things, would be added. Another system would only engender confusion, and cause loss of confidence and disrespect for the regular medical practice or any other system. Let me advise you, my fellow-physicians, to obtain and possess every potent auxiliary method of treatment, and the confidence of the laity will be retained by us and we will be the more capable of their full confidence and appreciation.

Finally, we wish to call the attention of the medical profession to one special point concerning the adaptability of spinal adjustment as an auxiliary expedient in their general practice. In the use of hydrotherapy we of necessity must have considerable facilities in the way of bath equipment, that we may apply the different methods of application of hot and cold water, and also considerable labor and assistance are necessary.

In the administration of electrical treatment it is necessary to have expensive apparatus that requires considerable room, and also time and experience to apply it with any degree of success.

Again, osteopathy consists of more than half a hundred different methods of procedure and it requires considerable strength and time to apply this treatment to a patient. Besides this, much of the work of the osteopath is done by routine, without any practical object in view, save to follow out the instructions of their educators.

But in giving spinal adjustment the equipment is quite inexpensive and may be prepared at a trifling cost and used without any assistance. In spinal adjustment the work is very specific. We make no move, give no thrust, make no adjustment, except for a xii Preface to First Edition.

specific purpose. Much less physical exertion and labor are required, and also very much less time consumed.

Much more can be accomplished by spinal adjustment in from one to two minutes' time than can beaccomplished by electricity, hydrotherapy, osteopathy, or any other auxliary system in an hour's time.

This advantage, we feel, will cause the work of spinal adjustment to appeal much more to the practitioner than the other cumbersome and laborious adjuncts just mentioned.

We believe that the greatest work of the author's life will be to assist in making a humble contribution to the knowledge of the medical fraternity, that will aid us in our work of relieving pain and suffering, and in this way contribute to the welfare of the laity, who look to us for the care of their health and the prolongation of their existence.

ALVA A. GREGORY, M. D.

Preface To Second Edition

THERE is an evident necessity that the physicians and surgeons of the present time possess a proficient knowledge of the cause, indications, and results of spinal lesions, arid also the more effective methods of removing them and their effects.

Lack of a competent knowledge of this subject may lead to our humiliation by the work of uneducated persons, who often obtain successful results in the treatment of many diseases, by spinal adjustment, that will not yield to our ordinary methods of medical and surgical treatment.

We have reached an age of advancement when it is unwise, upon the part of the leaders in the practice of the healing art, to ignore or pass without due consideration, any newly discovered methods of diagnosis or treatment which are based upon reasonable principles and rational methods.

The true principle of advancement in the healing art is to investigate all reasonable methods of treatment, with an open mind, and to hold fast to those which are found to be good.

We are aware that erroneous teachings, concerning the science and philosophy of spinal lesions and spinal treatment, have been a potent cause in driving intelligent people to disbelief and even disgust, yet we know there is a correct philosophy underlying this science, and that there is potency in the remedial agency of spinal adjustment, and that wonderful results follow its application, even though the treatment be given by some with limited education and in an empirical way.

We know that we are in need of auxiliary methods of treatment, and this is evidenced by the fact that most xiv Preface to Second Edition.

chronic diseases are not amenable to our ordinary methods of medical and surgical treatment, and so-called self-limited diseases always run their course; while, under spinal adjustment and other rational methods, acute and the self-limited diseases, so called, are cut short and aborted, and chronic cases recover, which have ever been believed to be incurable.

Our first effort to get this new science or method of treatment of spinal lesions before the profession has met with unexpected success and we hereby acknowledge our gratitude, and we trust in this volume to merit your further appreciation and continued support.

In the preparation of this work we have consulted the following works: Gray's Anatomy, Cunningham's Anatomy, Clark's Applied Anatomy, Landois' Physiology (edited by Brubaker), Spondylotherapy, by Abrams. and other text-books.

We are indebted to many practitioners of spinal adjustment, for points on methods of procedure in relieving contractions of the musculature of the spine. We especially thank Dr. Oakley Smith, Chicago, Illinois, Dr. J. Franklin Balzer, Pasadena, California, Dr. Walter Harmer, Burlington, Iowa, Dr. J. Alfred Coultrap, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dr. George Olsen, Dr. D. Chaliss Faust, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. P. E. Erickson, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. George B. Abbott, Los Angeles, California, and others, for methods of adjustment, and to those mentioned and others we are indebted for many of the methods described and illustrated in this work.

We especially call your attention to a new feature of spinal treatment by spinal percussion. This method has been used by the Japanese in the resuscitation of persons who have recently been made unconscious from accident or shock or from heart failure. Dr. Abrams has done much investigation and has given us much information in his able writings and we are glad that after several

Preface to Second Edition. xv

months of investigation that we can concur with him. after verifying the truthfulness of his claims by clinical experience.

This work is in line with spinal adjustment and constitutes one of our most potent auxiliary methods of Spondylotherapy, and we are glad to indorse and give you briefly much information along this line.

In our next volume, which is being prepared while this work is in the hands of the printers, we wish to give more fully the symptoms and the auxiliary methods of drugless treatment for acute and chronic disease, believing that such a work will be of great value to the practitioners of rational methods of drugless treatment.

We wish you to kindly overlook any and all shortcomings, and to write us your criticisms and to proffer us suggestions for improvement in subsequent editions.

ALVA A. GREGORY, M. D.

Contents

Preface to Part One, First Edition Pages vii to xii.

Preface to Second Edition Pages xiii to xvi.

Contents Pages xvii to xxii.

Chapter I Pages 3 to 19

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM— Phases of nerve function considered- Principal divisions of anatomy — Arbitrary divisions of anatomy— Component parts of the cerebro-spinal division of the nervous system — The cranial nerves: names and function — Regional divisions and number in each — The sympathetic division of the nervous system, why so named — Historical data — Anatomical — Subdivisions of the sympathetic division of the nervous system — The gangliated cords — Cardiac plexus — Solar plexus — Hypogastric plexus — Treminal ganglia — Branches .

Chapter II Pages 20 to 33

CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CEREBRO-SPINAL AND SYMPA- THETIC DIVISIONS— Color demarcations— White rami to sympathetic- White rami to terminal ganglia of the head region — To terminal ganglia of pelvic region — Two streams of white rami — Gray rami to cerebro-spinal division — Ganglia of the gangliated cords — Gray rami distribution.

Chapter III Pages 34 to 48

THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM— The upper portion of the gangliated cords — Branches of the superior cervical ganglia and extension — Branches of the internal carotid plexus — Cardiac plexus: formation — Terminal ganglia given off by the cardiac plexus — Epigastric plexus formation — Terminal ganglia given off by solar plexus — Pelvic plexus formation — Terminal ganglia given off by pelvic plexus — Spinal action of certain lumbar nerves.

Chapter I Pages 91 to 99

INTERFERENCE WITH NERVE FUNCTION— Malnutrition- Nerve stimulants — Nerve depressants — Mental impressions — Structural lesions — Traumatic alterations — Mechanical interference — Effects of fasting — Causes of malnutrition — Overfeeding — Underfeeding — Poor digestion — Poisonous food — Poor assimilation — Occlusion of circulation — Impingement of gray rami .

Chapter VIII Pages 158 to 169

RESULTS OF SPINAL LESIONS— Impingement of afferent nerves- Impingement of efferent nerves — Impingement of veins from cord — Impingement of arteries to cord — Impingement of gray rami to cord — Impingement of lymphatics to cord — Impingement of white rami to sympathetic — Lack of auto-protection — Lack of normal tonicity — Lack of normal metabolism — Lack of normal circulation — Lack of normal recuperation — Lack of normal thermogenesis — Lack of histological conformation — How function of nerves may be altered.

Contents. xix

Chapter I Pages 199 to 228

NERVE SUPPLY — Nerve supply to scalp — Nerve supply to brain — Nerve supply to nasal cavity — Nerve supply to teeth and gums — Nerve supply to the tonsils — Xerve supply to the pharynx — Nerve supply to the throat and larynx — Nerve supply to the eyes — Nerve supply to the ear — Nerve supply to the tongue — Nerve supply to the thyroid glands.

Chapter II Pages 229 to 246

NERVE SUPPLY TO THORACIC VISCERA— Nerve supply to lungs — Nerve supply to the heart — Nerve supply to the diaphragm.

Chapter III Pages 247 to 267

XERVE SUPPLY TO ABDOMINAL VISCERA— Nerve supply to the st mach — Nerve supply to the liver — Nerve supply to the spleen — Nerve supply to the kidneys — Nerve supply to the small intestines — Nerve supply to the large intestines — Nerve supply to the peritoneum.

Chapter IV Pages 268 to 277

NERVE SUPPLY TO PELVIC VISCERA— Nerve supply to the uterus — Nerve supply to the bladder — Nerve supply to the prostates — Nerve supply to the ovaries and testicles — Nerve supply to the inguinal canal — Nerve supply to the rectum — Nerve supply to the genitalia.

Chapter V Pages 278 to 284

CEREBRO-SPINAL CENTERS— Division of cranial nerves— Central place in cervical region — Central place in thoracic region — Central place for skin action.

Chapter VI Pages 285 to 294

SPINAL CENTERS— Atlas place— Middle cervical place— Arm place — Upper heart place — Lung place — Heart place — Stomach place — Central place — Liver place — Pancreatic place — Adrenal place — Upper bowel place — Lower kidney place — Bladder places — Lower bowel place— Ovaria or testicle place — Lower genital place — Rectal place — Relation of spinous processes and spinal segments.

xx Contents.

Chapter III Pages 325 to 334

SPINAL EXAMINATIONS— Position for examination— What to note in the different positions — General examination in the one position — Enumeration of the principal symptoms of spinal lesions — Malpositions of the spinous processes — Malpositions of the transverse processes.

Chapter IV Pages 335 to 344

SPINAL SUBLUXATIONS— Meaning of the term— Torsion or twisting — Anterior, posterior, left and right lateral subluxation — Compound subluxation — Approximated condition — Signs of subluxation — Pain — Tender nerves — Thermic alterations — Derangement of function — Malalignment of spinous or transverse processes — Contracture of spinal musculature.

Chapter V Pages 345 to 358

PALPATION — Pulse rate — Temperature — Spinal lesions — Visceral outline — Condition of skin — Local abnormal size — Local abnormal shape — Methods of palpation in the cervical region.

Chapter VI Pages 359 to 378

NERVE TRACING— Definition— Methods of holding finger— Methods of following a nerve — Tracing from the spine— Tracing toward the spine — Locating tender points along nerves — Tracing a peripheral nerve rami — Unexplainable nerve tracings in rare cases.

Chapter I Pages 671 to 683

NERVE SUPPLY AND TREATMENT — Diseases of aorta, ankles, appendix, bladder, brain, colon, ear, esophagus, extremities, eyeballs, eyelids, eyesight, face, fevers, gums, heart, kidneys, larynx, liver, lungs, ovaries, pancreas, peritonitis, pharynx, pleura, prostate, rectum, scalp, sex organs, small intestines, spleen, stomach, adrenals, teeth, throat, glands, tongue, tonsils, uterus.

Chapter II Pages 684 to 689

POINTS OF CONTACT— Thumb contact— Ulnar contact— Pisiform contact — Hollow of hand contact — Ball of thumb contact — Folded fingers contact .

Chapter III Pages 690 to 699

SPONDYLOTHERAPY METHODS— Specific and simple rules for relieving any tender nerve in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar region — Special rules and precautions to observe in giving the spinal thrust — Rules for relieving and preventing spinal soreness and tenderness.

Chapter IV Pages 700 to 712

EXAMINATION OF URINE— Physical characteristics— Solid contents — Tests for albumin — Test for sugar.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page

Alva A. Gregory, M. D Frontispiece

The sympathetic division of the nervous system 11

Connection between the cerebro-spinal and the sympathetic systems. . . 21

Spinal cord and gangliated cord 26

Connection of cervical ganglion with the upper cervical nerves 32

Thinning of the intervertebral cartilages 130

Contraction of the ligaments or settling of the spine 131

Normal intervertebral discs . 137

Showing an extremely settled condition of the spine 138

Showing how the nerve sheaths make their exit from the spinal column . 159

Scheme of the origin and distribution of the spinal nerves 2C0

Nerve supply of the scalp 202

Nerve supply of the brain 206

Nerve supply of the face and neck 209

Nerve supply of the nasal cavities 211

Nerve supply of the teeth and gums 213

Nerve supply of the tonsils 215

Nerve supply of the pharynx 217

Nerve supply of the throat and larynx 219

Nerve supply of the eye 221

Nerve supply of the ear 224

Nerve supply of the tongue 226

Nerve supply of the thyroid body 228

Nerve supply of the lungs 231

Nerve supply to the heart 239

Nerve supply to the diaphragm 243

Nerve supply of the mammary glands 245

Nerve supply of the stomach 250

Nerve supply of the liver 254

Nerve supply of the spleen 257

Nerve supply of the pancreas and suprarenal capsules 259

Nerve supply to the kidneys 261

Nerve supply of the small intestine 263

Nerve supply of the large intestine 265

Nerve supply of the uterus 269

Nerve supply of the bladder 271

Nerve supply of the ovary and fallopian tubes 274

Nerve supply of the rectum 276

Showing a normal and an abnormal spine . 304

Showing the exit of the neural sheath 321

Method of marking tips of spinous process 351

The tender region in a case of pericarditis 360

Showing spinal connection' of the tenderness palpated in front 362

Showing manner of supporting palpating finger in case of nerve tracing . 364 Showing nerve tracing made in case of rheumatism on front side of arm. 366

Nerve tracing made in case of rheumatism on back of arm 368

Showing a nerve tracing in a case of pleurisy. Front view 371

Showing the spinal origin of the nerves impinged , 373

Showing the origin and tracing of nerves in a case of blindness 375

Showing front view of the nerve tracing made in a case of blindness. . . . 377

Showing the muscles of the neck 387

xxiii xxiv List of Illustrations.

Page

Amplia thrill for longitudinal vibrato-traction 404

Showing patient receiving direct traction 413

Atlas adjustment (old method) 441

Bimanual atlas method 443

Transverse atlas method 445

Finger pivot atlas method 447

Bimanual thrust method 450

Mento-occipital rotary method (sitting) 451

Mento-occipital rotary (pronate) 454

Mento-occipital rotary dorsal position 456

Transverse anterior thrust method 458

T. M. cervical method 461

Rotary method 463

Flexed finger method 465

Centrum thrust method 467

Transverse process method 471

Transverse process (rotary method) 473

Spinous and transverse method 475

Transverse occipital bimanual thrust (cervical method) 477

Our simple adjustment table closed 478

T. M. Method 481

Lateral upper thoracic method 483

Bimanual extension method 485

Side thrust method 487

Side thrust method (improved) 489

Mento-spinous method 491

Mento-rotary method 493

Occipito-spinous method 495

Old upper thoracic method 497

Occipito-spinous method 499

Shepherd method No. 1 (patient standing) 505

Shepherd method No. 2 (patient standing) 507

Pisiform contact (method No. 4) ' 509

Rib thrust, thoracic method (Bohemian) 511

Ulnar border contact (method No. 6) 513

Spinal swaying (method No. 7) 515

Hollow of hand contact (patient prone) 517

Bimanual rotary methods (patient prone) 519

Thumbs on transverse process (method No. 13) 523

Ball of thumb contact method 525

Raising limb, lumbar method 535

Old method No. 1. Except back end of front table is lower 537

Side thrust (method No. 2) 540

Rotary lumbar method No. 4 543

Rotary lumbar method No. 3 ' 545

Ilium thrust method No. 6 547

Ilium thrust method No. 6 549

Imperfect old method No. 1 555

Over a roll method 557

Bohemian fifth lumbar method 559

Sacral thrust method No. 5 563

Showing sensory innervation of the anterior part of the body 623

Showing sensory innervation of the posterior part of the body 625

Scheme of the distribution of the thoracic spinal nerves 639

Plan of origin and distribution of a thoracic nerve 643

Illustration of points of contact 685

INTRODUCTORY.

THE ORIGIN OF SPINAL ADJUSTMENT.

1. The principles underlying the science of spinal adjustment are as old as the vertebral column. Probably the contraction of muscles and ligaments along the spine, when irritated, have ever caused an approximation of the vertebrae, which causes a narrowing of the intervertebral foramina, and consequently an interference with the normal nerve supply to the different organs and parts of the body. This has been true, undoubtedly, to a greater or less extent, from the beginning of the human race.

2. Since the creation of man we have no evidence of a change in the histological or anatomical organization of the nervous system, nor of the direct or indirect action of the same or any organ or part of the body, save a diminution in the size of the organic structures and functional decrease in strength.

3. The knowledge of some of the facts concerning spinal adjustment and the knowledge of some of the principles were partially obtained before the author's day. The history of the beginning of this method of treatment is largely buried in obscurity.

4. Although this practice has been in vogue in Northern Europe, especially in the Bohemian country, for near a hundred years, yet it is even now practically unknown in the greater part of the United States.

5. From Professor Yawger, of the University of Pennsylvania, we learned of the use of spinal manipulation and spinal adjustment by the Germans in their fatherland before it was known of or used by the Bohemians in their native country.

xx vi Introductory.

EARLY HISTORY OF SPINAL ADJUSTMENT.

1. During the past century some of the Bohemians have obtained decided constitutional effects and it is claimed they have restored many invalids to health by their system of giving thrusts and other methods of making spinal adjustment. This practice has been in Europe, as it has been in the United States so far, with few exceptions* in the hands of ignorant and unlearned advocates, and consequently is now known to but few of those people who are educated in therapeutic lines.

2. The purpose of the Bohemian manipulations was for the relief and cure of disease, both acute and chronic. And it is said they have been used also for the purpose of resting and refreshing a person after continued tiresome labor, and were so used because of exhilarating effects that would follow the application of this mode of treatment or procedure.

3. It seems that the promoters of some of the more violent sporting games have in some way gained information concerning the effects of spinal treatment.

For years the football players of America have been using a crude and empirical treatment of the spine in emergency cases during football games. When a member of the team suffered from a jam or blow that would knock the breath out of him, four of his comrades would take the injured player, one holding to each extremity, and stretch him upon the ground, face downward, while the fifth party would punch or pound the spinal column on either side of the spinous processes, and in this manner they would restore his heart action and respiration, or relieve the cramping produced by the shock or blow. In this way they would soon restore him to the game.

4. By experience, they learned that this was the quickest way to restore a member who had been injured or temporarily paralyzed or put out of commission by

The Origin of Spinal Adjustment. xxvii

a blow or fall. In a future section of this volume we study the action of the nervous system, and we can then understand why this method produces quick and positive results.

5. A very crude method of spinal adjustment has also been practiced for some time — for the relief of sickness, and with great success in many cases — in America among some of the emigrants from Northern European countries.

6. The author of this work at one time had a patient who was receiving spinal adjustment for lumbago who told of the following incident:

"About twenty years ago I had a Bohemian renter on my farm in Minnesota. One day, when I visited him, we were talking about sickness, doctors, and medicine. He told me he seldom ever called a doctor, nor did he use any medicine; and he proceeded to show how, when he was sick, he would lay prone upon the floor, while his wife would remove her shoes from her feet and walk along his spine." In this way she would relieve his pain and cramping and the fever, he claimed, by walking along his spine from the lumbar to the cervical region.

In her treatment, one foot would be placed on either side of the spinous processes and the application of force or weight would be applied to the transverse processes.

This procedure, no doubt, in a crude way overcame ligamentous contractions, which would approximate vertebrae and narrow the intervertebral foramina, and by this they overcame interference with the nerve supply to the different organs of the body.

These people, we are sure, were not familiar with the methods of giving thrusts and other methods of treatment of the spinal column as were used by Napravit, who probably, as far as we find any history, was the originator of this method of treatment.

Most of the world's greatest discoveries and many of xxviii Introductory.