Table Of ContentCHIROPRACTIC
TEXTBOOK
R. W. STEPHENSON, D.C., Ph.C.
CHIROPRACTIC
TEXTBOOK
BY
RALPH W. STEPHENSON, D.C., PH.C.
Illustrations by the Author
DAVENPORT, IOWA
Published by The Palmer School of Chiropractic
1948 Edition
COPYRIGHT, 1927
BY
THE PALMER SCHOOL of CHIROPRACTIC
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
DR. PALMER S LETTER OF APPROVAL OF
CHIROPRACTIC TEXTBOOK
Dear “Stevie”:
I could not blame you if you have grown impatient at my
apparent silence in not giving you an expression of my opinion
regarding your MSS. which you submitted for my approval or
disapproval.
I have been doing some writing, taking my time to think it over
carefully; and, between times when tired, I would go over another
chapter of your book.
This is Sunday and I have just finished it. Of ALL the books
written and compiled on Chiropractic Philosophy, this is by far the
best, not excepting my own. The one great, grand and glorious
thing you HAVE done has been to compile the many principles
which are in my writings, into a systematic, organized manner,
building them up from simple to the higher forms, so that any
layman inclined could investigate and find out what
CHIROPRACTIC IS, IS NOT; WHAT IT DOES AND DOES
NOT; HOW AND WHY IT DOES WHAT IT DOES. YOU have
clearly, carefully and consistently compiled the many
PRINCIPLES of Chiropractic into a readable, understandable
book, simple enuf for the layman, deep enuf for the savant.
My writings are many. They are in one form or another; either
here or there. Each subject is exhaustive. If any person wanted full
and complete information on a specific subject, then
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LETTER OF APPROVAL
he should go to the special monograph on that subject, but, if he
wants the working approximate principle then in your book he gets
them all.
Where has always been a void in Chiropractic literature.
Assuming an understanding mind asks where he can get a book
which would tell him what Chiropractic is—I have always felt that
there was no one specific work that we could hand him for that
purpose. WE NOW HAVE THAT BOOK. It is your work. You
have filled a niche that no other work has done. Here is a book
that any chiropractor can hand to any investigating lay mind and
know that it will do him, Chiropractic and yourself justice. Your
work can now be used as a handbook on that subject.
I rejoice with you in its production. As ever,
B. J.
viii
PREFACE
To GAIN knowledge of Chiropractic I came to the Fountain
Head. To me, then, the Fountain Head of Chiropractic was B. J.
and not the school. To me, B. J. is still the Fountain Head of
Chiropractic. I look to him for unsullied Chiropractic. I feel that
the fundamental principles of Chiropractic, as given by this great
teacher, are not to be tampered with by me or any one else, and in
this book I merely serve as “Transmission from Source to
Periphery.”
I owe much to Dr. John H. Craven for more intimate instruction
in Chiropractic and its Philosophy. I knew he never deviated from
the teachings of Dr. Palmer. I am thankful for the great lessons in
Philosophy and ideal Chiropractic and humanity, which I learned
from this sincere teacher.
I have quoted freely from Dr. Palmer’s books, and from Dr.
Mabel Palmer and Dr. Craven; viz., Vol. V; Vol. IX; Vol. XV;
Majors and Minors, (M&M).
This book has been prepared for class room use. Accordingly it is
divided into sections for each semester. It has additional sections
in etiology and thesis writing, for the convenience of the student. It
is hoped that it will be a help to the field practitioner, who is still a
student of Chiropractic, offering to him a review, as well as the
later developments in the science of Chiropractic. It was the
intention of the writer to make this book more than a Philosophy; it
is intended to be a textbook of Chiropractic, conveying the more
practical parts of Philosophy so that the student who pursues its
subjects through, will have a comprehensive knowledge of
Chiropractic. It is also hoped that it will prove interesting to the
layman, should he choose to read it.
The book, with the exception of the section on thesis writ-
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PREFACE
ing, is arranged in articles of varying lengths and numbered for
reference and convenience. Each article is in two parts. The
statements in bold faced type, contain the meat of the subject.
They are the cardinal points—the high spots. If the student should
learn these only, he would have a good knowledge of the subject of
Chiropractic. The balance of the article is elaboration of the same.
The entire work is tied together by references, article to article,
where it was deemed necessary; and proof given, by use of the
fundamental principles, in the manner of deductive geometry.
Bold faced type is used for more important statements, italics for
terms, and words or names are emphasized by capitalization,
where necessary. Especially is this true of words entirely
Chiropractic in character.
In the Introductory, Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Section,
are questions for review. These are intended to make the student
think. Even if he is unable to answer some of them; if they set him
to thinking; raise inquiry in the right direction, they have
accomplished their purpose. There are no questions in the Senior
Section, for by that time, the student should be able to ask his own
question for the purpose of reviews.
Not until a student has reached the Senior Work is he able to
question Chiropractic. The writer believes that no one is in a
position to question Chiropractic with any justice, until he has
studied it. Spencer says, “There is a principle which is a bar
against information which is proof against all argument and which
cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. That principle
is condemnation before investigation.”
RALPH W. STEPHENSON, D.C., Ph.C.
x
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Fig. 1. The Safety Pin Cycle ..........................................................9
Fig. 2. Triangle Cycle ....................................................................9
Fig. 3. Quadrangle Cycle ...............................................................9
Fig. 4. Universal Diagram ............................................................10
Fig. 5. The Normal Complete Cycle ............................................11
Fig. 6. Relation of Universal Intelligence to Innate
Intelligence ......................................................................13
Fig. 7. Universal Diagram of Innate and Educated Bodies ..........15
Fig. 8. Nervous Tissue Cells (Central and Cyclic) ......................27
Fig. 9. Tissue Cells (Peripheral) ..................................................34
Fig. 10. Graph of Adaptations ......................................................61
Fig. 11. The Cycle of Sight ..........................................................71
Fig. 12. Normal Complete and Special Sense, Compounded ......73
Fig. 13. The Interbrain Cycle .......................................................74
Fig. 14. Abnormal Complete Cycle with Vertemere Cycle .........77
Fig. 16. Abnormal Cycles ............................................................84
Fig. 16. Normal Complete Cycle, Applied ..................................86
Fig. 17. The Restoration Cycle ....................................................89
Fig. 18. Cyclic Schemes of Local and Condition ........................91
Fig. 19. Momentum and Retracing Chart ....................................97
Fig. 20. Analogy of The Water Pipe ..........................................103
xi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 21. Scheme of The Serous Circulation ...............................106
Fig. 22. Irrigated Field illustrating Wet and Dry Man ...............109
Fig. 23. Tissue Spaces, (Peripheral Scheme) .............................113
Fig. 24. Unsuccessful Poison Cycle ...........................................151
Fig. 25. Scheme of Zones ...........................................................167
Fig. 26. Headache Charts ...........................................................174
Fig. 27. General and Special sense scheme ...............................190
Fig. 28. Graph, Minor Aggravated by a Major ..........................226
Fig. 29. The Forest Giants. (Evolution Values) .........................261
Fig. 30. The Superficial Nervous System ..................................283
Fig. 31. The Visceral Nervous System ......................................285
Fig. 32. Peripheral Arrangements of Nerve Tissue ....................287
Fig. 33. The Cranial Nervous System ........................................289
Fig. 34. Conduits and Communications .....................................291
Fig. 35. Section of Spinal Cord ..................................................291
Fig. 36. Comparison of Electric Light Filament to Abnormal
Neurone .......................................................................297
Fig. 37. Cervical Cord Pressures, Cord Tensions and
Multiple Pressures .......................................................305
Fig. 38. Sacral Cord Tension .....................................................307
Fig. 39. Rotated Subluxations ....................................................319
Fig. 40. Tilted Subluxations; Pedicle Positions .........................321
Fig. 41. Posterior Subluxations, Pedicle Positions, and
Intervertebral Foramen ................................................323
xii
