Chiropractic correcting subluxations since 1895

Chiropractic correcting subluxations since 1895

Dr. Daniel David Palmer – The father of chiropractic The following information is a summary of the interesting history of chiropractic. This information comes from the book written by Walter Wardwell, PhD, “Chiropractic: History and Evolution of a New Profession” published by Mosby in 1993. The Early Years… D.D. Palmer…

The first chiropractic adjustment was performed in the city of Davenport in the state of Iowa in 1895 by a man named Daniel David Palmer. During his life, D.D. Palmer was a teacher, farmer, sold food, and eventually practiced what was known as “Magnetic Healing” in Davenport for several years before discovering Chiropractic.

Contrary to what the name suggests, “magnetic healing” had nothing to do with magnets. It was a mix of massage and meridian therapy, based on the concepts of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. “Magnetic Healing” developed as an alternative to traditional medicine at the end of the Civil War.

In 1895, it was very common for doctors to use “bloodletting” as a method to treat diseases. D.D. Palmer describes his practice of “magnetic healing”…

“In 1886 I started my business. Although I practiced under the name of ‘magnetic healer’ and I did not give massages, nor did I touch like others. I questioned doctors about the real cause of diseases. I wanted to know why a person suffered from asthma, rheumatism, and other problems.

I sought to understand what differences existed between two people, one suffering from some ‘disease’ and their neighbor or friend, who lived under the same conditions but did not suffer the same problems. In my private practice of 10 years, I treated nerves, followed them, and helped reduce inflammation. I made many ‘healings,’ as many as are done today with similar methods.”

As the previous citation tells us, Palmer was interested in finding the real cause of disease. He wanted to know why two people living in the same house, drinking from the same glass of water, breathing the same air, and often having the same parents, could have such a difference in terms of health: one was strong and healthy, and the other weak and sick. Palmer understood that there had to be something more than the environment influencing our health. His theory was that this factor differentiating the sick from the healthy was the functioning of the neurological system.

On September 18, 1895, D.D. had the opportunity to test his theory. “Harvey Lillard, a janitor in the ‘Ryan Block’ building, where I had my office, had been so deaf for 17 years that he could not hear a wagon being pulled down the street or the ticking of a clock.

I asked him about the cause of his deafness, and he told me that once when he was bending over, he exerted himself and felt a sound in his back and immediately became deaf. An examination revealed that a vertebra in his spine was out of position. My reasoning was as follows: if that vertebra is realigned, his hearing should be restored.

With this goal in mind and after a half-hour talk to persuade Mr. Lillard to allow me to realign this vertebra, I used the spinous process as a ‘lever’ to realign that vertebra, and very soon the man could hear again. There was nothing ‘accidental’ about this; it was done with a purpose in mind, and the expected result was obtained.

There was nothing ‘crude’ about this adjustment; it was very specific, so specific that no chiropractor has been able to match it.” Palmer understood that Mr. Lillard’s deafness was due to a blockage or interference in the nerves that exit the spine and control the ear.

This interference was due, according to Palmer, to irritation in the nerves that exit the spine because of a deviation in the spine. By correcting that deviation and positioning the vertebra in its correct position, the nerve connection was reopened, and thus Mr. Lillard’s hearing was restored.

Today we know that the mechanism involved in that deviation (Vertebral Subluxation) is much more complicated than Palmer understood. However, the concepts of interference in the neurological system, postulated by Palmer, and the detrimental effect that this interference has on our health remain as valid as ever over the last 117 years.

The term “chiropractic” was coined by a good friend of D.D. Palmer, Reverend Samuel H. Weed. Chiro- meaning “hand” and practice meaning “the act of practicing,” tells us that Chiropractic means “Practice using the hands” Marc Bony, DC subluxacion.com all rights reserved