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
Osteopathy is not a secret
A great many people regard Osteopathy as a secret which Dr. Still and his co-workers are guarding from publicity. Greater error was never made. Those who are acquainted with Dr. Still know full well that, were he possessed of a secret, which, if generally known, would benefit humanity, that secret would be made public without delay. But Osteopathy is not a secret that can be easily disclosed. Any attempt to give to the general public or place before the scientific world a written explanation of Osteopathic practice, would work greater harm than good, for it could only result in turning loose a lot of quacks to prey upon the people. It is utterly impossible to impart a useful knowledge of Osteopathy through the press the printed text-book or from the lecture platform.
The principles of the science can be comprehended only by those who are thoroughly familiar with anatomy and physiology; and even to those competent to grasp its principles, Osteopathic practice cannot be explained in print or by word of mouth. A clear, practical knowledge of the system call only be gained while working on the animal machinery under the direction ion of a competent operator.
The Osteopathic “shop,” where is done the work of overhauling and lining up broken down and badly used “human machines,” is not a star chamber filled with mysterious paraphernalia. It is a neat little work room. The only apparatus, except ordinary articles of furniture, is a plain operating table, about six feet long, upholstered in leather. This serves as the work bench.
The curious visitor may step inside this room and witness an operation. The patient is placed on the table, and the operator goes to work. The curious visitor now thinks he is going to learn the secret of Osteopathy, and he wonders that the Osteopaths were such fools as to allow him to see the operation. The whole procedure looks simple, and it actually seems to the onlooker that he could take hold and do the same thing. But the fresh country boy who, after watching a skilled telegraph operator working the simple little key, thinks he “can do that just as well,” is no more sadly fooled than the man who thinks he can learn Osteopathy by mere imitation. The country boy might work the telegraph key even harder and more rapidly than the operator had worked it, but the messages he desired to communicate would not be recognized by any receiving operator, and there would be no response. It is precisely the same with the Osteopathic imitator. He can place his patient on the table and do just as he thinks the Osteopath did. But he may push and pull and twist and haul around until he has nearly dismembered his patient and there will be no beneficient result. Like the boy at the telegraph table, there is no intelligence behind his work, and nature makes no response to unintelligible messages. The apparently simple twist of the Osteopath involves the very highest degree of intelligence and skill. Brawn is no part of the art. Frequently the operations which secure the most wonderful results, would appear to be a “mere touch” to the unexperienced onlooker.
The successful Osteopathic operation must be directed by a mind thoroughly acquainted with every part and process of the animal economy. In addition to this knowledge, the Osteopathic fingers must be trained to instantly detect the slightest abnormality. The sense of touch must be developed to its highest perfection. As the deft fingers of the blind pupil are trained to readily distinguish the different letters of the alphabet through many thicknesses of heavy cloth, so the Osteopath, by running his skillful fingers over the surface of the body, discovers the slightest misplacement of any muscle, tendon, bone, artery, or vein. An absolute, unerring knowledge of normal anatomy, not merely the name of each part and how it looks, but how it feels as well—this high development of the sense of touch—is the great foundation of Osteopathic diagnosis. And it is rare, indeed, that any morbid condition of the body escapes the Osteopathic fingers.
But the end is not yet. All this knowledge of anatomy and physiology, with the almost marvelous development of the sense of touch by which the diagnosis has been made and the cause of the trouble located, would amount to very little if the defect could not be corrected. The obstruction to the natural processes of the body must be relieved. And here the Osteopath must possess skill of still another variety. After reasoning out just what ought to be done, he must KNOW HOW to do it. Perhaps the whole trouble is caused by the malposition of some small ligament an inch or more from the surface, where it is impossible to get the fingers directly upon it. Then the operator must be acquainted with all the principles of mechanics as applied to the machinery of the human body. He must understand how to use the various bones, muscles and ligaments as levers, pulleys, etc., and be able to calculate to a mathematical certainty just what movement is required and what the result will be. This involves not only a thorough knowledge of the laws of mechanics, but a knowledge of the MECHANICAL RELATION of every part of the body to every other part. This knowledge is not found in any printed work on earth, nor can it be written in a manner to be understood. In fact Osteopathy as a whole involves a practical application of principles that cannot be imparted by books. An explanation that would explain cannot be written. The student must be directed in a manner similar to that employed by the machinist or carpenter to teach an apprentice the trade. A man might read a thousand volumes on ”how to become a carpenter,” or ”how to become a machinist,” and then not be able to build a house or repair a locomotive. Osteopathy is a system of anatomical engineering which must be learned precisely as the machinist would learn his trade-by serving an actual apprenticeship under those who are masters of the system. It is impossible to get an intelligent idea of the science in any other way.
Unknown author
Journal of Osteopathy, June 1896
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