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Medical men have never been able to harmonize the science of medicine with organic functions in health and disease. Science is the registered mental account of our surroundings; it is common sense--we desire to know things as they are. Chiropractic embraces the science of life, the knowledge of how organisms act in health and disease, also the art of adjusting the neuroskeleton. An organism is an organized body, such is known as the living economy, the regulation of the parts of an organic whole, the aggregate of the parts and laws governing an organism. Ecology, or bionomics, is that branch of biology which deals with the mutual relations between that branch of biology which deals with the mutual relations between organisms and their environment, the effect which our surroundings has upon life, the modification of vital actions which are directed by an intelligence. Bionomic forces are those external forces, other than vital forces, which influence the changes incident to the development of life. Bionomy is the laws of life; the science which treats of laws regulating the vital functions. Biologas is the living and intelligent power displayed in organic activities. Bioenergy is the life-force, the force exercised in living organisms. An organism is any individual animal or plant. Any living being is an organism. The collective parts which compose an organized body, together with the laws which govern their action constitutes an organism. An individual so constituted that it may carry on the activities of life by means of its organs, which, although differing in function, yet are mutually dependent upon each other for their individual acts is an organism. An organized body endowed with a separate existence, whose vital sets depend upon the aggregation of organs, constitutes an organism. The science of chiropractic has lead to the creation of the art of vertebral adjusting. The philosophy of chiropractic (the science and the art) consists of the reasons for the principles which have lead up to and the wherefore of vertebral adjusting. Science refers to that which is to be known; art to that which is to be done; philosophy gives the reasons why of the method and the way in which it is to be performed. A science is composed of principles which coincide with mental and physical facts. I have systematized the principles of biology, thereby creating a science. The theory of chiropractic embraces the speculative principles upon which the art of vertebral adjusting is based. The study of chiropractic includes the consideration of the three divisions, viz., the science, art and the philosophy of the two just mentioned. Chiropractic to be a science must be specific. In order to be scientific it must contain the knowledge of the principles and facts of biology reduced to an unvarying law and embodied into a system. Where science ends faith begins. To know the science of chiropractic is to have a knowledge of the principles which compose it. The ability to put that knowledge into practice is chiropractic art. Knowledge embraces all that we know from whatever source derived or obtained, or by whatever process acquired; it is the aggregate of facts, truths and principles obtained and retained by the mind or spirit through reason, objective perception, derived from the use of the external senses, or of intuition, subjective immediate knowing of the inner animating intelligence. Beyond the region of knowledge is that of nescience, lack of knowledge, a deficiency of knowableness. Science is founded upon facts, while nescience decreases as knowledge increases, the unknowable is diminished. The principles of chiropractic science were not developed or evolved from any other method; they were discovered as pre-existing elements and formulated into a system. The principles which compose the science of chiropractic are as old as the vertebrata. To know chiropractic as a science, we must become familiar with the principles, we must make it scientific. To know it as an art is to make it specific, make use of the knowledge which composes the science. A chiropractor is one who has a knowledge of the science and art of chiropractic, one who is capable of performing the art of adjusting vertebrae; he should, also, comprehend the philosophy of the science and art, the reasons for so doing. Science is the know-how; the art is the doing; the philosophy consists in the reasons why of phenomena, as explained by a knowledge of the powers and laws which govern them. The science of chiropractic embraces the principles and demonstrated facts of bioilogy. The science of dynamics includes the principles and facts of machinery. The science of chiropractic and that of machinery have no resemblance whatever, in their motive force. That being a fact, why try to illustrate either one by the principles belonging to the other? Just as well try to explain the science of grammar by that of astronomy; geography by mathematics; chemistry by agriculture; or that of music by navigation. Man is not a machine. The science of chiropractic is in no way related to the science of machinery. Its phenomena are dependent upon vital force, not that of dynamics. The structure of the body is defined under that of anatomy, not metalography -- a treatise on metals. Bodily functions depend upon vital force, not dynamics. The existence of metals, whether in the form of machinery or that of ore, depends upon certain inanimate qualities, whereas the existence of animals depends upon functions. Vital philosophy and mechanical philosophy are not
correlated, they are radically and entirely different.
In chiropractic, you should discriminate between
science and art. Science depends upon principles, and art upon practice.
Biology and chiropractic include vital phenomena in contradistinction to physical facts; those functions, energies and acts that depend upon life, as manifested by contrast to those which exist without intelligence. A prominent writer aims to make a record in chiropractic by affirming that he is the author, formulator and constructor of the science of chiropractic; that the essence (the essential principles) is love, patience, perseverance, truth and equality; that these principles constitute its highest standard, wonderful beauty and simplicity. Love, patience, perseverance, truth and equality as principles belong to the Sunday School or the lodge room of some benevolent organization; as five principles they are not found among the 500 which the founder of chiropractic uses to compose its science. Why not learn chiropractic as a science? Why not be specific in adjusting? Why not learn the specific cause of typhoid fever, acquire the knowledge of why, how and where adjust for it? Why not comprehend the how and the why organs and parts of the body are affected by displaced vertebrae? Why not know that hemiplegia is because of the displacement of the sixth dorsal vertebra, that one-half of the body may be affected by the fibers of that nerve? Why not become acquainted with the proper method of adjusting that vertebra? Why not learn of the two ganglionic chains of the sympathetic nervous system which reach from the occiput to the coccyx, its plexus of nerves extending into the cranium, the fibers of which unite with the cranial nerves, and that these vertebral cords are distributing agencies of organic life, reaching to all the viscera? Why not learn that the neuroskeleton is a protector of the central nervous system, and that when any portion thereof is displaced it is a disturber of vibration, heat and other functions? Why not learn to use the vertebral processes as levers to replace luxated vertebrae? Science is knowledge, ascertained facts, accumulated, systematized information regarding causes and principles. Why not correlate and reduce to a system these principles; why not make them practical? Why not learn to reason from cause to effect? Why not become acquainted with physiological and pathological processes in health and disease? Why not obtain knowledge regarding pyorrhea alveolaris; why not ascertain the fact that a discharge of pus from the margin of the gums, granulated eyelids, bleareyes, kidney affections, diseases of the sebaceious glands, and some headaches are because of a K. P. luxation, that two or more of these diseases may be associated, may result from over-tension on the fibers of one nerve which ramify the portions affected? Why not be able to make a distinction between the diseased conditions arising from the tight, rigid, strained nerves of the third cervical and twelfth dorsal? Why remain satisfied with a meager knowledge of the science, art and philosophy of chiropractic? Why not advance onward and upward toward perfection, why remain on the lower rounds, why not exert yourself and become eminent in your line of work instead of kicking down the ladder upon which others are climbing? |