"The Lost Years"—1902-1904 ROLF E. PETERS and MARY ANN CHANCE ABSTRACT: Cyrus Lerner, an investigative lawyer, produced a report on chiropractic that identified the period of 1902-1904 as "The Lost Years" of chiropractic. This paper is an attempt to fill in that period based on later published research and our own investigations. INDEXTERMSiMeSH: CHIROPRACTIC; HISTORICAL ARTICLE. Chiropr J Aust 2003; 33: 2-10. INTRODUCTION Clarence N. Flick, DC, of St Albans, NY established the Thus the D.D. Palmer era—with D.D. as the sole authority Foundation for Health Research Inc., which was chartered in teaching chiropractic at his school—ended when he decided New York on 20 January 1950. The Foundation believed that to leave for Califomia in 1902, apparently not giving any 36 years of failed efforts to achieve licensure for the profession reason. in the state of New York were due to the difficult-to-challenge perception that the chiropractic claim was without scientific B.J. PALMER: HOLDING THE BAG basis and that it represented a potential danger to public health. With the disappearance of D.D. Palmer from Davenport, The Foundation hired Cyrus M. Lerner, a prominent B.J. Palmer was left in sole charge. Prior to his graduation, investigative attorney, to explore every fact bearing on the B.J. had already practised in Manistique, Michigan, from 20 historical basis and development of chiropractic. He had full June 1901 to 31 September 1901 He lodged at the home of access to the archives at the Palmer School, as well as G. Keils, on River Street.^ His first patient, seen on 20 June newspaper and court records, and had several interviews with 1901, was Dr. O.C. Bowen of Manistique, who suffered from B.J. Palmer, then nearing his seventieth year. Lerner identified asthma. He was last seen on 23 June, and was reported as that there seemed to be a gap in B.J.'s memory of the first "well." During B.J.'s three months stay, he saw 61 new years after his graduation, when D.D. Palmer had left patients." Davenport for Califomia. Lerner termed this period "The Lost Years." Lerner's unpublished manuscript. The Lerner Report, B.J. learned early that his obvious youth was a hindrance was submitted to the Foundation in 1952 after 22 months of in gaining the confidence of older patients, and he decided to research.' change his appearance by growing a beard, which in various shapes he would keep for the remainder of his life. (Figures This paper attempts to fill in the gaps, based on the writings 1-3) of other historians, as well as our own research. In early February 1902 B.J. was practising in Lake City, D.D. PALMER'S DEPARTURE Iowa, where he lodged at the Columbia Hotel. He also gave lectures at the local opera house, and was visited by his sister B.J. Palmer graduated 6 January 1902. After graduation, Mae, Mrs Niles Brownell." From 28 February 1902 until 20 he practised not only in his father's school and infirmary,^ March 1902 he practised in Spring Grove, Minnesota," and but also in Lake City, Iowa; Traverse City and Manisdque, again used the local opera house to give public lectures, Michigan; Elkins, Belington, and Kernes, West Virginia.'' including one on hypnotism, given on 18 March 1902.'' While practising in Manisdque, B.J. received a wire from During April and May he was again in Lake City, prior to D.D. requesting him to return to Davenport at once. On arrival, going to Manistique. B.J. found that his father had sold everything he could sell to a second-hand dealer. The rest he turned over to B.J. with Of D.D.'s disappearance to Califomia, B.J. would recall: instructions that when he had sold $200 worth of stuff, to follow D.D. to California. That night, D.D. and his wife It was while we were practicing in Manistique, skipped town for California. This embittered the landlord, Michigan, we were making more money than father was and he threatened to bring D.D. back and sue him for breaking in Davenport. We made a report to him of our income. his lease.' We received a wire, "Come back at once." Being a minor, we obliged. RolfE. Peters, BSc, DC, FICC When we arrived, we found father had sold everything Mary Ann Chance, DC, FICC Editors, he could to a second hand dealer. What he couldn't sell, Chiropractic Journal of Australia he turned over to us with instmcdons, "When you get Wagga Wagga, New South Wales $200 together come to Califomia where we are going." Chiropractic Journal of Australia 2 Volume 33 Number 1 March 2003 "THE LOST YEARS" — 1902-1904 PETERS • CHANCE Fig. 1. B.J. Palmer, Christmas 1900 Fig. 2. B.J. Palmer as he appeared in August Fig. 3. B.J. Palmer in 1903. 1902 in Davenport Times. Courtesy Palmer College Archives. That night he and his wife slcipped to California. This Another reason can be found in an advertisement that B.J. made our landlord bitter, and he threatened to bring him placed in the Davenport Times on 12 July 1902: back and send him to jail for jumping a landlord's lease.' The exact reason for D.D.'s departure has not been firmly DR. D.D. PALMER established. Lerner, an investigative lawyer fabricates, in a and wife have removed to Pasadena, Califomia, where theatrical fashion, a plot in which D.D. fears being sued by a they will start a branch of the student and in order not to lose his school and its belongings, transfers these to B.J., and then leaves for California, and all Chiropractic School and Infirmary that in 1901. In reading Lerner's work one could be forgiven Located at the Comer of Second and Brady, for thinking that at times he is more interested in writing a DAVENPORT, lA. play than concentrating on facts.' Gielow points out that the lawsuit was dropped by the DR. BJ. PALMER student on 15 January 1901, therefore this could not be the IS NOW LEFT IN SOLE CHARGE, will consult with and reason for D.D.'s departure in June 1902. He rather believes treat all patients personally. that fear of medical persecution might have triggered the COURTESY AND GENTLENESS WILL BE THE MAIN move.* FEATURES IN THE NEW MANAGEMENT. Zarbuck and Hayes advise that by 1902 practically all The doctor and his assistants are thorough in their work, states, including Iowa, had passed Medical Practice Acts that defined all healing arts as the practice of medicine, and and as at the hands of gentlemen will get the best of furthermore to practise their healing art, even though drugless treatment. and non-surgical, the practitioner must be examined and Advancement and up-to-date business licensed by MDs of a medical examining board.' methods Gibbons also believed that D.D. Palmer left Davenport WILL NOW BE USED ENTIRELY. under the threat of prosecution for the illegal practice of Call up long and local distance telephone No. 8963 and medicine.'" By 1905 the official story line was that D.D. went to Califomia to search for a former student, Thomas Storey, consult with them regarding your disease and arrange for who had mysteriously disappeared from his home and practice an examination which is free. They are open evenings in Duluth, Minnesota. He had apparently been traced to until 8 p.m. Califomia, and appeared to be suffering from amnesia. D.D. located him, adjusted him, and by one adjustment retumed Don't Forget that the Chiropractic School & Infirmary his mental faculties to normal." is now under an entirely new management. Chiropractic Journal of Australia Volume 33 Number I March 2003 3 "THE LOST YEARS" — 1902-1904 PETERS • CHANCE Whatever the reasons for D.D.'s departure, B.J., still a adjustment and having visited his rooms several times youthful nineteen-year-old teenager—he was born 10 and seen the results attained by him on seemingly September 1882'-—was left holding the bag. hopeless cases, I resolved to go and try this last resort. By this time it was about five o'clock in the afternoon. I He had been saddled with 42 rooms that had been stripped went up to the office and found in charge an insignificant of their furnishings, probably a lot of angry patients, some of looking kid some sixteen years of age. "Where is Dr. whom would have lodged in the Palmer infirmary, and a Palmer," I inquired. "Why, he is out riding. You know massive financial debt: $375 in back rent owed;'Mease the National Chiropractors' convention is in session here payments to 1 January 1904'-' of $ 175 per month, or $3,150,'= and he is showing the delegates around the Tri-Cities and a general indebtedness of approximately $8,000.'* and the Rock Island arsenal." "How did they go," I asked. B.J. could have left and followed D.D. to California as He replied, "father took them," and strange as it may requested by him, but he decided to stick it out and rebuild seem to you, he took the entire National Chiropractic the shattered remains of the school and infirmary. He found convention to see the sights with a pair of spotted ponies an angel in the person of Howard Nutting, a local and a two-seated surrey. "I do not know when father businessman, who provided the financial backing to re-equip will return," spoke the kid. "Can I do anything for you?" the school and infirmary.