Osteopathic Truth September 1916 Vol. 1, No. 2 Reproduced with a gift from the Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA Special Projects Fund) May not be reproduced in any format without the permission of the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine,SM [1991.1334.111] OSTEOPATHIC TRUTH A MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR THE OSTEOPATHIC PROFESSION Pledged to the TRUTH which Father Andrew saw, No favor sways us, and no fear shall awe. Volume I SEPTEMBER, 1916 Number 2 Scientific Honesty Compels us to Stand for Straight Unequivocal Osteopathy, Says Dr. Meacham. The New President of the A. O. A. Makes a Plain, Square.Statement Editor Osteopathic Truth: .A decayed molar and a decayed tonsil are one and If the object of this Legion is to promulgate the the same to me, because both of them have to go out principles of osteopathy, to keep these principles un­ of my office for the best special treatment for those diluted and uncontaminated and to further the appli­ conditions. I have no more hesitancy in applying to cation of these principles-then I am with you. a specialist for one than I do for the other. If an I am against the straddle-bug and the hyphenate in anodyne is needed I should never hesitate to call for citizenship, in politics, in the man who made that religion and in scientific method a specialty. principles. I hope to live to see the There is such a thing as day when the drug dis­ scientific honesty. penser will be a specialist Financial honesty be­ with a field limited to gets a man standing and tho s e extreme cases credit in his community. where, for any reason No less will scientific hon­ whatever, the principles esty beget for our profes­ of osteopathy fail to bring sion ~ scientific standing relief. and credit in the minds I am in favor of being of men. an osteopath first and a Any idea, tenet or per­ doctor last, if by being a son that tends to place our doctor first we must equip profession before the pub­ ourselves with the whole lic as a bunch of money­ junk in the medical chasers, willing to do any­ pharmacopeia. thing so we "can handle If we live up to our a case," ought to be up­ best opportunities of per­ rooted and cast out by fect osteopathic practice our professional organiza­ we can and will eventually tions. Whatever or who­ make specialists and not ever is not for us is against us. doctors out of the drug-giving bunch. But we can No man is for the scientific principles of osteopathy do this only by being scientifically honest, by adhering who uses materia medica for therapeutic effect. The to our principles, and by spurning those honors and two ideas are incompatible. opportunities that might come to us through disloyalty If our professional principles and our individual art to osteopathic truth. in applying these principles are too limited t6 reach a W. BANKS MEACHAM, D. O. certain class of cases, then let us be scientifically hon­ est by referring these cases to those whom we believe capable of applying the correct remedy. ASHEVILLE, Aug. 23, 1916. Museum of Osteopathic Medicine. Kirksville, MO 14 OSTEOPATHIC TRUTH ---- DIETETIC ADJUSTMENT. contains the necessary elements of nu­ heritage and lead the world in diagnosis trition seldom combine their foods com­ and therapeutics, or whether it is con­ CEO. W. REID, D. O. patibly. Dietetic adjustment is second tent to have others take first place in giv­ According to Dr. Still, "the human in importance only to structural adjust­ ing to hu'Vanity the full fruits of the machine, like the locomotive, or any ment. Let us not forget this in our Old Doctor's philosophy. "Sentiment ", other mechanical contrivance, when prop­ daily ministrations. you say? Not a bit of it. Simply our erly adjusted, nourished and cared for, In addition to emphasizing the import­ right as a profession, and because the should run smoothly into a ripe and ance of proper jiet, these deficiency osteopathic philosophy can deliver the useful old age." This statement com­ diseases bear testimony to the value of goods in the hands of those who prop­ prehends the whole function of the natural methods of treatment as opposed erly comprehend its simple truths. to artificial methods. Every new discov­ And furthermore, because we are as yet osteopathic physician. The human ma­ ery in the field of therap,.eutics seems to hut upon the threshold of this wonderful chine requires to be adj usted, nourished undermine the basis for popular as well philosophy, a statement which can be and otherwise properly cared for. as professional belief in the curative ef­ quickly verified by any qualified oste­ Thus, nutrition is'one of the funda­ fects of drugs. Indeed, it appears that opathic physician who has spent years in mental considerations of the osteopathic the belief in the remedial power of drugs active practice. As in all other pursuits school. is founded largely upon ignorance, both the greater experience the greater skill. The problem of nutrition embraces the in and out of the profession. Otherwise. The failures can seldom be laid at the subject of diet, as well as that of mas­ how can we account for the fact that our door of Osteopathy, but rather to our tication, digestion and assimilation. most enlightened physicians as well as own limited comprehension of the body Structural adj ustment places the body laity are getting away from the drug mechanism and the osteopathic philos­ into condition so that digestion and as­ 'fetish? Some years ago, Dr. Austin ophy. The indicated remedy for failure similation may take place without let Flint, in addressing a graduating class js well-defined, namely, more osteopathy or hindrance. In other words, it estab­ of medical students, made this significant and yet more. lishes an environment within the body statement in reference to drugs, "I sup­ Let u develop our own philosophy favorable to the normal or healthy ex­ pose th'at when we become perfect and let the other fellow take care of him­ pression of all its cells and tissues. physicians we will give none". Here is self. No one brain can hold all the The body. however, may be in an ex­ food for thought for oUT medically in­ learning in the world, so why not delve quisite state of adjustment and yet fall clined osteopathic brethren. into our philosophy rather than talk 0'£ a prey to disease simply because it is its shortcomings! A united sentiment not supplied with the proper nutritive for more osteopathy will solve every elements. Pellagra, beriberi, scurvy and AS DR. CAVE SEES IT. problem which confronts us, whether it rickets are diseases of this character. FRANCIS A. CAVE, D. O. be organization, legislative, collegiate or They are now known to be deficiency what not. There should be just one diseases. as they result primarily from The first issue of "OSTEOPATHIC standard for osteopathic fellowship and a diet that is devoid of certain essential TRUTH" was surely an inspiration to that should be a dyed-in-the-wool belief food elements. There is a very close me, and must prove such to the large in and adherence to the osteopathic con­ relationship between beriberi and pel­ body of our profession who believe in cept as enunciated by the Old Doctor, lagra. The former is essentially an a normal evolution of the osteopathic whose vision has given to the world oriental disease, occurring largely among principle. "OSTEOPATHIC TRUTH ,. this boon to humanity. Our millenium those who subsist mainly upon highly looks to me like a pretty husky young­ can be brought to pass through mutual polished rice, while pellagra is essentially ster, with plenty of bone and sinew co-operation between the profession and an occidental disease, occurring among already developed, ready for the the colleges, between the national and those whose diet consists mainly of friendly scrimmage or the pitched bat­ the state organizations, and the elimina­ highly polished corn products. tle, under the standard of " A. T. STILL tion of hybrids, by assimilation or other­ In the treatment of these diseases, no OSTEOPATHY", the well-c h 0 sen wise. dope. drugs, serums or vaccines are slogan for the present organization year. It has always been an open question necessary, notwithstanding the fact that (Why not adopt this slogan as the per­ in my mind as to how much of a medic they have been generously employed by manent slogan of the A. O. A. and non­ a physician could be and yet remain an our metlical friends in their endeavors to members as well?) osteopath. In spite of the immense en­ cure. The essential requisite is proper It seems to me high time for a return dowments and extraordinary physical adj ustment of the diet. The patients to the type of "militant" osteopathy enuip1llents of the larger medical schools must be given foods that are rich in which put us on the map in the first of the world, their graduates cannot com­ vitimines, and the foods that possess place, and which alone will suffice to p~re in practical all-around, efficiency these elements in abundance are green, keep us there in spite of foes without WIth the true-blue osteopathic graduate. fresh \'egetables, fresh fruits and un­ and within (but especially within). The difference must therefore lie 'not polished cereals. Whole wheat or gra­ ~o one could attend that fine con­ in endowment or equipment, but i~ the ham bread must be substituted for white vention at Kansas City without feefing application of the virfie basic facts of the bread, and unpolished cereals must be keen satisfaction in the thoughl that the osteopathic philosophy to the diagnosis used instead of highly polished cereal profession is now wide awake to the dan­ and treatment of disease.