The Osteopathic Physician March 1911 Vol. 19, No. 3 Reproduced with a gift from the Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA Special Projects Fund) and Michigan Auxiliary to the Macomb County Osteopathic Association May not be reproduced in any format without the permission of the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine SM (formerly Still National Osteopathic Museum) Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO VolUIne XIX. CHICAGO. MARCH. 1911 Number :; The lung anaemia, if remammg any great A Chapter from Osteopathic Pathology length of time, could lower the resistance locally of the long tissue through malnutrition and thus L. von H. Gerdine, D.O., Kirksville, Mo. prepare the way for the pneumococcus if the latter happens to be pre5ent in the patient's Delivered at the February Meeting of the Chicago Osteopathic Association. throat secretions. The local malnutrition would thus serve as a "culture medium" for the germ. USE the term "Osteopathic" Pathology to in­ palpation of the bone. So much for the find­ The germ once admitted the ordinary results of dicate, by one inclusive phrase, both the ings. What is the explanation of these conditions germ action take place that is the phenomena of Jchanges anatomic and histologic to be found and their relation to the lung disease? inflammation in narrower sense such as conges­ in the ordinary medical text-books of pathology, I think that the first link in our pathologic tion followed by exudation, solidification and the together with the anatomic findings of the osteo­ chain is the "exposure" which: produces the like. path. muscular contracture5' for that cold can proc1uce In some 5uch way as this we can explain every I shall speak chiefly of that grouo of diseases link in the chain; we explain the relation of "ex­ which are more or less prominently connected posure," of the "germ" and the rest to the with thermal conditions, that is exposure to cold, osteopathic lesion. The question has often been etc.-what I may term, therefore, the "Cold" or asked whether the vaso-motor spasm could con­ "Exposure" di5eases. tinue sufficiently long to produce the marked In this group we find acute inflammations like lowering of vitality of the tissue. I think there rhinitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia (lobar is little doubt of the pos5ibility, for in migraine and broncho), acute muscular rheumatism (such we have vaso-motor spasms in aU probability as lumbago, rheumatic torticollis, etc.), "cold in -(the face becomes paUid, etc.), and the at­ the bowels," and possibly conditions like infan­ tacks may last several hours. Again, the attacks tile 5pinal paralysis and the like. of vaso-motor spasms in Raynaud'5 Disease, in In most aU of these disorders we find several which the extremity becomes cold and pallid, last things in common such as (1) acuteness of the for some time. process, (2) many if not aU being of an inflamma­ This theory explains also why not all people tory nature, and (3) aU being in 50me way more in whose throat the pneumococcus is demon­ , or less connected with cold as an etiologic factor. strated develop pneumonia, for they have not the predisp05ing local conditions in the lung. Again The ordinary pathologic changes as described d~ in the text-book I need say little of. We have, it explains why all people, who are exposed, however, certain fairly definite anatomic changes not develop the disease (they have not the pneu­ known chiefly to the osteopath whiCh will require mococcus in their throat). more detailed discussion and which will in This theory explains, too, the effect of correc­ conjunction with the "cold" factor explain, I tive therapy on the prognosis, that if it be the think, very satbfactorily the morbid changes in vaso-motor spasm with foUowing dilatation and their totality. nutritional derangement which lowers the resi5t­ To illustrate this group in detail I shall select ing power of the lung, it must necessarily take first of aU as a typical example-the common some time before the condition becomes marked. lung inflammation caUed pneumonia. According If, therefore, the anatomic lesions are corrective to the standard authorities pneumonia is usually very early we could well imagine the change does ~onnected with "exposure"; the exciting cause not become great enough in the lung for the IS the "pneumococcus"; and the morbid changes germ to establish a firm foot-hold, and hence the In the lung are briefly conjestive, followed by an process would stop 5hort. And I believe that ex­ exudation into the alveoli which 50lidifies caus­ perience demonstartes the possibility of so-called ing the so-called stage of hepatization which in aborted pneumonia. At an events we often see turn is followed by resolution. patients with initial chill and rise of temperature Concerning the above authoritative statements \dth pain in the side, etc., quickly clear up 'after we note that the exact relation of the exposure persistent treatment from the outset. to the lung disorder is not explained and no As for pneumonia so somewhat analogous con­ definite theory is ever brought forward. More­ ditions and reasonings doubtless hold for the over we find the medical authorities admitting other members of the "exposure" group of dis­ that 'something more" than the mere presence of eases. How commonly, for example, do we find the pneumococcus is necessary to produce the di5'­ patients with acute diarrhoeas and painful ten­ ~as~ since frequently in the throats of healthy der muscles in the lower part of the back, with mdlviduals (some 20 per cent), the organism ha the consequent bony displacement, and do we ~e~n found. This additional "something more" Dr. L. von H. Gerdine, of Kirksville, Mo. not regularly find that one or two treatments It IS s?ggested, is to be found in the "lowering confined to the region alone promptly stops the of re51stance" of the lung, but how to explain diarrhoea. It was a "cold in the bowels." Sim­ ~uch muscle contraction is admitted by all and easily ilarly in rhinitis and laryngitis the painfulness a lowering, for often the patient has been proved in the physiologic laboratory. ;p apparently full health until the onset of the and tenderness of muscles of the neck' are Is~ase. These problems have remained unex­ The muscular contractures, of course, would marked. Here again early corrective treatment P al11ed up to the present. cau~e the bony displacements, for that is the re­ in cervical region as all osteopaths know cuts ~hat has the osteopath to say? What are his sult of the shortening of muscles attached to hort the "cold" in the bud. ~dl11gs and how do they fit in with the "germ bones, i. e., skeletal muscle. In this connection I am please'd to notice that ~ory of pneumonia" and with the "exposure Now, remembering the close relation anatomic­ McFarland, of Philadelphia, in his recent text­ etIology" and the morbid changes in the lungs? ally, between these deranged structures, especiaUy book of Pathology mentions to plausibility of The osteopathic findingr; are chiefly muscular ribs and the sympathetic chain ganglia of vaso-motor spasms being found in connection ~d bony "lesions" (that is "abnormalities") in the upper dorsal region we can readily understand with these acute inflammations in' the no'se and e dorsal region of the spine and ribs. The how the latter's function could be disturbed. throat and hence lowering the resistence of the fl scles are found contracted and sore and pain­ This function in aU probability, certainly in part, part to the germ. u on pressure and manipulation and the bones seems to be vasoconr;trictor to the lungs. Irrita­ I have already spoken of the possibility of are .deranged in their normal relations by the ex­ tion, therefore, of the ganglia would result in infantile spinal paralysi5 being grouped under ce~~lve "pun" of the contracted muscle. At the stimulating them and hence causing vasomotor this heading, because of an of the etiologic fac­ POtnts of displacement too we find tenderness on spasm and lung anaemia. (Conunued on page ~) Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO 2 The Osteopot1l.ic Physician. Osteopathic Inventions Multiply "I have just had an opportunity to examine Special Reports on Stomach the improved Twentieth Century Treating Table NEW treating table of unique design and and while I will be pleased to see the inventor Cases Desired construction is offered to the profession. of this table prospered by the sale of it and given A We are showing herewith a view of the due credit for ingenuity and patience in working Dr. C. W. Proctor, 897 Ellicott square, Buf new Twentieth Century treating table, recently out its valuable points, my real purpose in com­ falo, N. Y., wjshes to receive reports of case perfected by Dr. J. V. McManis, of Baird, Texas, menting upon this remarkable table is to attract of constipation, stomach and intestinal in but who, for some time past, has been doing the attention of the osteopathic profession to the digestion in which a special diet was used i fact that in Doctor McManis' invention we have connection with the osteopathic treatment. the first table that has ever solved the problem These reports should be definite as to th of making operative technique easy in the lumbar character of the diet and frequency of eatin spine and lower dorsal and at the same time with the results obtained, as they aloe fo (and this is the impressive feature) to move the use of the committee on research i the lower part of the body on a fixed point in dietetics, and are to be included in a repo any direction desired just as though one held at the Chicago meeting and should be sent a the legs of the patient on his arm, but without earliest convenience.