Philosophy of Osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still [best book club books for discussion TXT] 📗

CHAPTER I.
Some Introductory Remarks. Not a Work of Compilation—Authors Quoted—Method of Reasoning—The Osteopath an Artist—When I Became an Osteopath—Dr. Neal's Opinion—The Opinions of Others—What Studies Necessary—What I Mean by Anatomy—Principles—The Practicing Osteopath's Guide—The Fascia—Not a pleasing Task—Without Accepted Theories—Truths of Nature—Body, Motion and 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 Osteopathic Explorer—Classification and Division—The Abnormal—Nerve Powers—Witnesses to Examine—Abnormal Growths—Cerebro Spinal Fluid—Body in Perfect Health—Chemistry—Nature's Chemistry. 29 CHAPTER III.
The Head. A Free Circulation—Death Blows—Something of the Neck—Order of Treatment—The Pelvis—Brains of Animals—Arterial Motion—Mental Vibrations—Overburdening the Mind—Hemiplegia. 43 CHAPTER IV.
Ear Wax and Its Uses. Nature Makes Nothing in Vain—A Successful Experiment—A Question for Ages—The Position—Meaning of Life—Some Questions Asked—Condition in Certain Diseases Caused by Cold—Cerumen in Fluid State—Winter Kills Babies—Some Advice to Mothers—A Case in Point—Connection of the brain and Other Nerves in Digestion—Unaided Investigation. 53 CHAPTER V.
Diseases of the Chest. Where Confined—Consumption—Can Consumption Be Cured—Consumption Described—No Time for Surrender—Cerebral Spinal Fluid—How to Destroy Deadly Bombs of Decay—Battle of Blood for Life—Miliary Tuberculosis—Conversion of Bodies Into Gas—Forming a Tubercle—Breeding Contagion—The Seeds of Disease—Generating Fever—Whooping Cough—Clouds and Lungs Are Much Alike—The Wisdom of Nature—Water Formed in Lungs—The Law of Fives—Feeble Action of Heart—The Heart—From Neck to Heart—Dyspersia or Imperfect Digestion. 68 CHAPTER VI.
The Lymphatics. Importance of the Subject—Demands of Nature on the Lymphatics—Dunglinson's Definition—Dangers of Dead Substances—Lymph Continued—Solvent in Nature—Where Are the Lymphatics Situated?—The Fat and Lean. 104 CHAPTER VII.
The Diaphragm. Investigation—A Struggle With Nature—Lesson of Cause and Effect—Something of Medical Etiquette—The Medical Doctor—An Explorer for Truth Must Be Independent—The Diaphragm Introduced—A Useful Study—Combatting Effect—Is Least Understood—A Case of Bilious Fever—A Demand on the Nerves—Danger of Compression—A Cause for Disease—Was a Mistake Made in the Creation—An Exploration—Result of Removal of Diaphragm—Sustaining Life in Principles—Law Applicable to Other Organs—Power of Diaphragm—Omentum. 114 CHAPTER VIII.
Liver, Bowels and Kidneys. Gender of the Liver—Productions of the Liver—A Hope for the Afflicted—Evidences of Truth—Loaded With Ignorance—Lack of Knowledge of the Kidney—How a Purgative Acts—Flux—Bloody Dysentery—Flux More Fully Described—Osteopathic Remedies—Medical Remedies—More of the Osteopathic Remedy. 138 CHAPTER IX.
The Blood. Uses for Fluids—Blood an Unknown Fluid—Harvey Only Reached the Banks of the River of Life—Blood Is Systematically Furnished—Fatality of Ignorance—To Find the Cause Must Be Honest—Following Arteries and Nerves—Feeding the Nerves—The Blood on Its Journey—Powers Necessary to Move Blood—Venous Blood Suspended. 149 CHAPTER X.
The Fascia. Where Is Disease Sown?—An Illustration of Conception—The Greatest Problem—A Fountain of Supply—Fascia Omnipresent—Connection with Spinal Cord—Goes With and Covers All Muscles—Proofs in Contagion—Study of Nerves and Fascia—Tumefy—Tumefaction. 161 CHAPTER XI.
Fevers. Be Armed With Facts—Union of Human Gases With Oxygen—Fever and Nettle-rash. Nature Constructs for a Wise Purpose—Processes of Life Must be Kept in Motion—No Satisfaction from Authors—Animal Heat—Semeiology—Symptomatology—Definition of Fever—Fevers only Effects—Result of Stoppages of Vein or Artery—Aneurisms. 175 CHAPTER XII.
Scarlet Fever and Smallpox. As defined by Allopathy—Scarlet Fever as Defined by Osteopathy—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—Acquaint Yourself With the Machinery—Duty of the Osteopath—Formation of Sacrum—The Pelvis—Appearance of Œdema—Do All Diseases Have Appearance in Œdema. 193 CHAPTER XIV.
Has Man Degenerated? The Advent of Man—Care of the Stock Raiser—Mental Degeneration Makes It Unpleasant for an Original Thinker—Original Thinkers of the Ancients—Methods of Healing—Failure of Allopathy—Primitive Man—Evidences of Prehistoric Man—Mental Dwarfage. 203 CHAPTER XV.
Osteopathic Treatment. Five Points—Visceral List—Care in Treating the Spinal Column—Most Important Chapter—Perfect Drainage—A Natural Cure. 213 CHAPTER XVI.
Reasoning Tests. The Vermiform Appendix—Operating for Appendicitis—Expelling Power of the Vermiform Appendix—Care Exercised in Making Assertions—Reasoning Tests—A List of Unexplained Diseases—Concluding Remarks. 223 CHAPTER XVII.
Obstetrics. Overloading—Similarity of Stomach and Womb—Births—Preparation for Delivery—Caution—Lasceration Need Not Occur—Care of Cord—Severing Cord—Putting on Belly Band—Delivery of Afterbirth—Preparing for Mother's Comfort—Post-Delivery Hemorrhage—Treatment for—Food for Mother—Treatment for Sore Breast. 234 CHAPTER XVIII.
Convulsions. Old Phrases—Results of Stoppage of Fluids—Old Theory of Fits—What the Real Cause may be—Listen for the Cause—What is a Fit—Sensory System Demanding Nourishment—The Causes—The Remedy—Dislocation of Atlas and of the Four Upper Ribs. 250 CHAPTER XIX.
Concluding Remarks. Thoughts for Consideration—Offering a New Philosophy—Lymphatics and Fascia—A Satisfactory Experiment—Natural Washing Out. 258 CHAPTER XX.
The Superior Cervical Ganglion. With What It Has Communication—Its Course—One of its Functions—Stimulation or Inhibition—Result Produced. 263

Philosophy of Osteopathy.

CHAPTER I. Some Introductory Remarks.