| Dedication Chapter I: History of Neuropathy Chapter II: Philosophy and Principles of Neuropathy Chapter III: The Circulations and Controlling Nerve Mechanisms Chapter IV: General Examinations and Controlling Nerve Mechanisms Chapter V: Specific Examination, Symptomatology, Diagnosis Chapter VI: Neuropathic Treatment
Chapter I: A Brief Outline of the Specialties Chapter II: Manipulative and Physical Therapeutics
DEDICATION To my parents, who have passed on before me; but whose memory grows sweeter, and whose moral and religious teachings become more valuable as the years go by.
FOREWARD When this work was first contemplated, it was desired that a Board of Editors be constituted to aid in preparing articles and also editing those that would be sent in. A large number of letters were sent out to, and many interviews were held, with doctors of the Drugless profession. Replies were of various types. Some sent in long generalized articles that were good but could not be used in a work of this nature. Therapeutics is the main subject and not theory. Some said they wished their techniques to remain a secret. Others said they did not have time to give to the work or did not have the ability to put their therapeutics into words. All the above is understandable, and the writer fully appreciates the fact that each and every one made some reply. But here is the problem: This Encyclopedia is not completed. To be of the greatest value to the profession, every phrase of human illness and abnormality should be discussed and therapeutics that are helpful given. If each physician who discovers a subject that is not fully discussed, or he or she has a different therapeutic procedure for that disease would send it to the writer, it would appear in future supplements to this work and proper credit given. Perhaps some diseases have been omitted by oversight. If these are discovered, the writer would be pleased to receive notification of them, and more than pleased if the sender would also include whatever therapeutic procedure to use in the particular diseased condition. The writer once heard a speaker burst out into great eloquence, accompanied by dramatic gestures, make the following statement: “Brethren, no one person can contain all the truth of life and nature. No, Sir! No, Sir! If he only got half the truth of life in his brain, it would blow him to pieces. Yea, verily brethren, it would grind him into dust.” To make this Encyclopedia a complete work will require the contribution of the contents of many minds. The writer is greatly indebted to many who gave assistance to this work as far as it is now presented to the profession. Especially to Dr. Harold W. Kline, who edited the section on Herbology. Dr. Grace Smith, who aided in preparing treatise on Neuropathy, and Dr. John Stevenson and Dr. Nona Grapes, who assisted in the subject of lymphology. The transitions in all branches of Drugless Therapy are so numerous that the future value of the present edition will be perpetuated by periodical supplements which will enable the readers to keep well abreast of the times without being obliged to purchase a new Encyclopedia. Thomas T. Lake.
INTRODUCTION Neuropathy is a good method of treatment which can be used in conjunction with every other form of physical therapy without impairing the efficiency of either form, but accomplishing much more good than if either was used separately. Neuropathy stands unique in several respects among all of the drugless therapies. First: because it was founded and developed by members of the medical profession as an aid to the practice of medicine. Over fifty years ago some venturesome members of that profession began research and experiment along the lines of controlling the blood circulation by manipulation of the nervous system. The result of all their efforts was the discovery and tabulation of nerve segments that would act as vaso dilators and vaso constrictors to the circulations and various organs and tissues. Then, second: Neuropathy was unique at the time of its announcement to the profession as being the only form of a two-fold treatment by control, at will, of the nervous system, stimulation or acceleration, sedation and inhibition. The first, a quickening of the nervous system with a corresponding increase in circulation and energizing of organs and tissues; the second, a quieting of the nervous system with a corresponding decrease in circulation and activity in the organs or tissues of the segmental area. Up to the time of the announcement of Mechano Neural Therapy and Neuropathy, sedation was a matter of nerve exhaustion, brought about by excessive stimulation rather than by deliberate manipulation of nerve segments. Third, it is unique because it was a departure from the harsh manipulations of those early days. Fourth: Neuropathy is unique from its origin and is plainly stated by its authors as not being a complete form of therapeutics in itself, but to be used as an adjunct to the practice of medicine. That was the purpose and thought, but as in ages past these investigators and experimenters were accepted as very worthy of recognition for a time, then later ridicule as ostracism was leveled at them by the leaders of the medical profession. This eventuated into the claim that Neuropathy was a complete healing art science, and a separate school for its study was set up, giving the degree of M. D. Neuropathic Branch. While persecution may have driven the founders of this healing art to claim Neuropathy as a complete healing art in itself, this writer, after many years of practice, has not found that claim to be a valid one any more than the same claim could be made for Chiropractic, Osteopathy, or Naturopathy. All of them have a missing link per se. None of them is complete. Neuropathy and the other drugless therapies would never have been invented if medicine had ever been a complete science. Medical practitioners today are reaching out to incorporate all of these forms into the practice of medicine under the terminology of Physical Therapy. The vast field of healing is too great and complicated for one group to absorb and develop. Each group has a trend, initiated by the schools and colleges that prevents any appreciable compromise. A physician either believes in the efficiency of drugs or he does not. If he believes that drugs can do more for the ills of mankind, then he would not spend much time developing the drugless side of his profession. On the other hand, the drugless physician has a trend away from drugs, while, at the same time, recognizing there are times when drugs are useful, and surgery is necessary. It is the height of absurdity when either one of these groups places extreme emphasis on any form of treatment and claim there is non plus ultra. The trend away from this absolutism has been noted by this writer for the past twenty years, and, it is a worthy trend for it forecasts a wider field of service by the doctor to his patient. This cosmopolitanism of practice is not confined to any one group. Medicine, Neuropathy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic and Naturopathy are all seeking to render this larger service by acquiring new techniques within the confines of its theory and principles. With this trend in mind the author thought that some service could be given to those in the drugless professions who are ever seeking a wider scope of usefulness by an explanation of the philosophy, principles and practice of Neuropathy, coupled with an encyclopedia of physical and manipulative methods, with many types of treatment so that the physician can use his discretion in the selection of those that might be beneficial to his patient. Neuropathy is a painless, yet soothing form of treatment and when applied correctly to the proper segmental areas has very definite physiological effects on the human body. For those who practice psychiatry in any manner it is an excellent adjunct to that practice. Neurology and psychiatry being in close affinity one to the other. Neuropathy is one of the best methods of ending up any kind of treatment whether it be by the administration of medicine or physical therapy. The author has received over one thousand letters from physicians in the last ten years asking questions about various types of treatments for specific conditions. This book, then, is an answer, in brief, to that need, so that the busy physician can quickly consult and find a number of approaches to the most common problems that arise in the selection of therapeutics to be applied. Thoroughly aware of the radical changes that have taken place, and will still take place in drugless thought, alive to the altered requirement of education, and cognizant of the epoch-making advances in drugless science that have occurred in recent years, this writer decided to create this reference work which should embody the latest and most authoritative forms of drugless therapy and its specialties. It is, therefore, with a certain degree of confidence that the writer presents this first edition, which, with changes and additions incorporated in future supplements, will prove acceptable as a drugless reference work.
GLOSSARY OF TERMINOLOGY OF NEUROPATHY Since Neuropathy has a few items of terminology peculiar to itself, the student would be wise in familiarizing himself with those given below, as an aid to quickly understanding the terms when encountered. Atrophy. A wasting of, or an inhibition of blood to a part of the body, due to overactivity of vaso-constrictor neural units. Degeneration. A perversion or deterioration of an organ or tissue. Hyperemia. Excessive amount of blood in a part due to overactivity of vaso-dilator neural units. Lymphatic. A part of a neuropathic treatment, when lymph is emptied from an area by pressure of specialized manipulations. Neural Units. A group of neurons, dendrites, etc. that have a specialized function. Perversion. The pathological term used to define changes in function of a nerve or circulation or organ and tissue structure. Vaso-constrictor Nerve. A nerve used to restrict the quantity of blood to a part. Sedation Treatment. The quieting of a particular area, or the allaying of the activity or excitement of a nerve or nerves by pressure on same. Dilation Treatment. The acceleration or quickening of a nerve and its corresponding blood vessels by means of tapping or quick movements of the hands. Palpation. Exploring with the hand. Percussion. Diagnosis by striking the body a sharp, slight blow. Reflex. An involuntary action from a nerve stimulus. |