I started a collection of texts from old osteopathic journals that could be of interest to osteopaths and people curious about osteopathy.

You can fin the full list here
Some were translated into French here

Independence

America as a nation has said that in the course of human events it became necessary to separate herself from other countries, customs and governments, declare her independence and live accordingly. She lived and labored to put that thought into form and execution, though it cost much money, time and life to obtain that independence. For one hundred years we the posterity of our forefathers have enjoyed the blessings bequeathed to us by them. Today we are a powerful nation; wealthy in our great and fertile fields, and in our colleges of law, literature and skill. Once we were despised. Today we are respected, first for our intelligence, next our wealth and lastly as the defending champions of the seas; not the tyrants but the true friends to all that are manly. We have two methods only of commanding respect of monarchies and despots: “Liberty and equality to all mankind.” If that does not call forth the respect of the world our fleets of both land and sea speak in such tones that monarchies say by both word and deed, that America has the men, intelligence and the skill to demand and obtain respect for its flag and country.

With Osteopathy the same condition is now before us. We have felt that we as a scientific branch of the healing art have discovered useful truths, that the world needs, wants and should have. But the “Czars” of medicine have said, you must die and be wiped from the face of the earth. Legislatures have been sought and asked to assist in putting to death the schools of Osteopathy, with more or less success crowning such efforts. They have said that the world should not choose for itself the kinds of help in sickness that he or she thought best suited to his condition. If Osteopathy has scientific merit and carries no bottles of poison that would produce death and destruction of human life why should medical schools ask prohibitory legislation? Why not let the people choose from all schools of healing arts?

At this point let us enter a protest against prohibitory opposition, declare our independence, raise our flag and give to the world literature of our own production. Have we to be led to the altar condemned by their rules of symptomatology, which is only a poor system of guesswork, and be drenched by the poisonous compounds of their schools of pharmacy? Are we to be prohibited by such schools from studying and applying the healing art as we find written in the book of nature? Does an American have to say “my lord” may I think a little? Or will he say as he has said for one hundred years just passed, that all men are free and equal. I will think, I will write, I will speak, though the smoke of roaring cannons of opposition should accumulate around me so densely that it could be cut with a knife.

We object to your literature being used as discipline; we claim the prerogative to abridge, substitute, amend, or reject all books from any medical school, or literary department, until Osteopathy shall have formulated such books and literature as its progressive demands have called for in thunder tones, and has never been answered outside of chemistry and anatomy. From now on be it known that we have graduates from the American School of Osteopathy who have never had a taint of the old system of drugs to bias their judgments by preconceived prejudice, or veil their eyes from the enjoyment of the beauties and healing art of nature. Their pens are abundantly able to furnish the needed literature.

A.T. Still
Journal of Osteopathy, May 1900

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