The Philosophy of Osteopathy

141 Pages·2015·1.41 MB·English

by  Laurence Hattersley

Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still

Philosophy of Osteopathy

Andrew T. Still

Release Date: June 22, 2008

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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
Philosophy of Osteopathy;

BY

ANDREW T. STILL,

DISCOVERER OF THE SCIENCE OF OSTEOPATHY AND
PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN SCHOOL
OF OSTEOPATHY.

PUBLISHED BY
A. T. STILL, KIRKSVILLE, MO
1899.

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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
Copyrighted, 1899, by
A. T. STILL.

Lithoprinted by
EDWARD BROTHERS, INC.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.

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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
Preface.

Many of my friends have been anxious ever since Osteopathy became an established
fact, that I should write a treatise on the science. But I was never convinced that the
time was ripe for such a production, nor am I even now convinced that this is not a
little premature. Osteopathy is only in its infancy, it is a great unknown sea just
discovered, and as yet we are only acquainted with its shore-tide.
When I saw others who had not more than skimmed the surface of the science, taking
up the pen to write books on Osteopathy, and after having carefully examined their
productions, found they were drinking from the fountains of old schools of drugs,
dragging back the science to the very systems from which I divorced myself so many
years ago, and realized that hungry students were ready to swallow such mental
poison, dangerous as it was, I became fully awakened to the necessity of some sort
of Osteopathic literature for those wishing to be informed.
This book is free from quotations from medical authors, and differs from them in
opinion on almost every important question. I do not expect it to meet their approval;
such a thing would be unnatural and impossible.
It is my object in this work to teach principles as I understand them, and not rules. I do
not instruct the student to punch or pull a certain bone, nerve or muscle for a certain
disease, but by a knowledge of the normal and abnormal, I hope to give a specific
knowledge for all diseases.
This work has been written a little at a time for several years, just as I could snatch a
moment from other cares to devote to it. I have carefully compiled these thoughts into
a treatise. Every principle herein laid down has been fairly well tested by myself, and
proven true.
The book has been written by myself in my own way, without any ambition to fine
writing, but to give to the world a start in a philosophy that may be a guide in the future.
Owing to the great haste with which the book has been rushed through the press to
meet the urgent demand, we will ask the indulgence of the public for any imperfection
that may appear. Hoping the world may profit by these thoughts, I am,

Respectfully,
A. T. STILL.

Kirksville, Mo., Sept. 1, 1899.
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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
Contents
Philosophy of Osteopathy ................................................................................................................................................................. i
CHAPTER I. ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS........................................................................................................................................... 1
NOT A WORK OF COMPILATION.......................................................................................................................................... 1
AUTHORS QUOTED ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
METHOD OF REASONING ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
THE OSTEOPATH AN ARTIST .............................................................................................................................................. 2
WHEN I BECAME AN OSTEOPATH ...................................................................................................................................... 2
DR. NEAL'S OPINION ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS ................................................................................................................................................. 2
WHAT STUDIES NECESSARY .............................................................................................................................................. 3
WHAT I MEAN BY ANATOMY ................................................................................................................................................ 3
PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4
THE PRACTICING OSTEOPATH'S GUIDE................................................................................................................................. 5
THE FASCIA ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6
NOT A PLEASANT TASK ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
WITHOUT ACCEPTED THEORIES ........................................................................................................................................ 6
TRUTHS OF NATURE ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
BODY, MOTION AND MIND ................................................................................................................................................... 7
OSTEOPATHY TO CURE DISEASE ...................................................................................................................................... 8
THE OSTEOPATH SHOULD FIND HEALTH ......................................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER II. ................................................................................................................................................................................ 10
OSTEOPATHIC EXPLORATIONS. ............................................................................................................................................ 10
DIVISIONS OF THE BODY ................................................................................................................................................... 10
SEARCHING FOR THE CAUSE ........................................................................................................................................... 10
DUTY OF THE OSTEOPATHIC EXPLORER ....................................................................................................................... 11
CLASSIFICATION AND DIVISION........................................................................................................................................ 12
THE ABNORMAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 12
NERVE POWERS .................................................................................................................................................................. 12
WITNESSES TO EXAMINE .................................................................................................................................................. 13
ABNORMAL GROWTHS ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
CEREBRO SPINAL FLUID .................................................................................................................................................... 13
BODY IN PERFECT HEALTH ............................................................................................................................................... 14
CHEMISTRY .......................................................................................................................................................................... 14
NATURE'S CHEMISTRY ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
CORRECT METHOD OF REASONING ............................................................................................................................... 15
CHAPTER III. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
THE HEAD. .................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
A FREE CIRCULATION......................................................................................................................................................... 16
DEATH BLOWS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16
SOMETHING OF THE NECK ................................................................................................................................................ 17
ORDER OF TREATMENT ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
THE PELVIS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 17
THE BRAIN OF ANIMALS ..................................................................................................................................................... 18
ARTERIAL MOTION .............................................................................................................................................................. 18
MENTAL VIBRATIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... 18
THE WHEELS OF THOUGHT............................................................................................................................................... 19
OVERBURDENING THE MIND ............................................................................................................................................ 19
HEMIPLEGIA ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19
CHAPTER IV. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 21
EAR WAX AND ITS USES. ......................................................................................................................................................... 21
NATURE MAKES NOTHING IN VAIN .................................................................................................................................. 21
A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT........................................................................................................................................... 21
A QUESTION FOR AGES ..................................................................................................................................................... 22
THE POSITION ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22
MEANING OF LIFE ................................................................................................................................................................ 23
SOME QUESTIONS ASKED ................................................................................................................................................. 23
CONDITIONS IN CERTAIN DISEASES, CAUSED BY COLDS .......................................................................................... 24
CERUMEN IN FLUID STATE ................................................................................................................................................ 24
WINTER KILLS BABIES ........................................................................................................................................................ 24
SOME ADVICE TO MOTHERS ............................................................................................................................................. 25
A CASE IN POINT ................................................................................................................................................................. 25
CONNECTION OF BRAIN AND OTHER NERVES IN DIGESTION ................................................................................... 26
UNAIDED INVESTIGATION .................................................................................................................................................. 26
CHAPTER V. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 28
DISEASES OF THE CHEST. ...................................................................................................................................................... 28
WHERE CONFINED .............................................................................................................................................................. 28
CONSUMPTION. ................................................................................................................................................................... 29
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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
HOW CONSUMPTION USUALLY BEGINS. ........................................................................................................................ 30
CAN CONSUMPTION BE CURED ....................................................................................................................................... 30
CONSUMPTION DESCRIBED .............................................................................................................................................. 30
NO TIME FOR SURRENDER ............................................................................................................................................... 31
CEREBRAL SPINAL FLUID .................................................................................................................................................. 31
HOW TO DESTROY DEADLY BOMBS OF DECAY ............................................................................................................ 32
BATTLE OF BLOOD FOR LIFE. ........................................................................................................................................... 32
MILITIS TUBERCULOSIS ..................................................................................................................................................... 33
CONVERSION OF BODIES INTO GAS ............................................................................................................................... 34
FORMING A TUBERCLE ...................................................................................................................................................... 35
BREEDING CONTAGION ..................................................................................................................................................... 35
THE SEEDS OF DISEASE .................................................................................................................................................... 36
GENERATING FEVER .......................................................................................................................................................... 36
WHOOPING COUGH ............................................................................................................................................................ 37
CLOUDS AND LUNGS ARE MUCH ALIKE .......................................................................................................................... 38
THE WISDOM OF NATURE .................................................................................................................................................. 39
WATER FORMED IN LUNGS ............................................................................................................................................... 39
THE LAW OF FIVES .............................................................................................................................................................. 40
FEEBLE ACTION OF HEART ............................................................................................................................................... 40
THE HEART ........................................................................................................................................................................... 40
FROM NECK TO HEART ...................................................................................................................................................... 41
DYSPEPSIA OR IMPERFECT DIGESTION ......................................................................................................................... 42
QUESTIONS OF GAS ........................................................................................................................................................... 42
CHAPTER VI. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 44
THE LYMPHATICS...................................................................................................................................................................... 44
IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT ....................................................................................................................................... 44
DEMANDS OF NATURE ON THE LYMPHATICS ............................................................................................................... 44
DUNGLINSON'S DEFINITION .............................................................................................................................................. 45
DANGERS OF DEAD SUBSTANCES .................................................................................................................................. 45
LYMPH CONTINUED ............................................................................................................................................................ 45
NATURE'S SOLVENTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 46
WHERE ARE THE LYMPHATICS SITUATED ..................................................................................................................... 46
THE FAT AND LEAN ............................................................................................................................................................. 47
CHAPTER VII. ............................................................................................................................................................................. 48
THE DIAPHRAGM. ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48
INVESTIGATION. .................................................................................................................................................................. 48
A STRUGGLE WITH NATURE ............................................................................................................................................. 48
LESSON OF CAUSE AND EFFECT ..................................................................................................................................... 49
SOMETHING OF MEDICAL ETIQUETTE ............................................................................................................................ 50
THE MEDICAL DOCTOR ...................................................................................................................................................... 50
AN EXPLORER FOR TRUTH MUST BE INDEPENDENT .................................................................................................. 50
THE DIAPHRAGM INTRODUCED........................................................................................................................................ 51
A USEFUL STUDY ................................................................................................................................................................ 51
COMBATTING EFFECTS...................................................................................................................................................... 51
IS LEAST UNDERSTOOD .................................................................................................................................................... 52
A CASE OF BILIOUS FEVER ............................................................................................................................................... 53
A DEMAND ON THE NERVES. ............................................................................................................................................ 53
DANGER OF COMPRESSION ............................................................................................................................................. 54
A CAUSE FOR DISEASE ...................................................................................................................................................... 54
WAS A MISTAKE MADE IN THE CREATION? .................................................................................................................... 55
AN EXPLORATION................................................................................................................................................................ 55
RESULT OF REMOVAL OF DIAPHRAGM........................................................................................................................... 56
SUSTAINING LIFE PRINCIPLES.......................................................................................................................................... 56
STALE LIFE............................................................................................................................................................................ 56
LAW APPLICABLE TO OTHER ORGANS ........................................................................................................................... 57
POWER OF DIAPHRAGM .................................................................................................................................................... 57
OMENTUM ............................................................................................................................................................................. 57
CHAPTER VIII. ............................................................................................................................................................................ 59
LIVER, BOWELS AND KIDNEYS. .............................................................................................................................................. 59
GENDER OF THE LIVER ...................................................................................................................................................... 59
PRODUCTIONS OF THE LIVER .......................................................................................................................................... 59
A HOPE FOR THE AFFLICTED ............................................................................................................................................ 60
EVIDENCES OF TRUTH ....................................................................................................................................................... 60
LOADED WITH IGNORANCE ............................................................................................................................................... 61
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE KIDNEY .......................................................................................................................... 61
HOW A PURGATIVE ACTS .................................................................................................................................................. 61
FLUX (BLOODY DYSENTERY.) ........................................................................................................................................... 61
HOW DOES THE OSTEOPATH CURE? .............................................................................................................................. 62
FLUX MORE FULLY DESCRIBED ....................................................................................................................................... 62
OSTEOPATHIC REMEDIES ................................................................................................................................................. 62
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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
MEDICAL REMEDIES ........................................................................................................................................................... 63
MORE OF THE OSTEOPATHIC REMEDY .......................................................................................................................... 63
CHAPTER IX. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 64
THE BLOOD. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 64
USES FOR FLUIDS ............................................................................................................................................................... 64
BLOOD AN UNKNOWN FLUID ............................................................................................................................................. 64
HARVEY ONLY REACHED THE BANKS OF THE RIVER OF LIFE ................................................................................... 65
BLOOD IS SYSTEMATICALLY FURNISHED ...................................................................................................................... 65
FATALITY OF IGNORANCE ................................................................................................................................................. 66
TO FIND THE CAUSE ........................................................................................................................................................... 67
MUST BE HONEST ............................................................................................................................................................... 67
FOLLOWING ARTERIES AND NERVES ............................................................................................................................. 67
THE BLOOD ON ITS JOURNEY ........................................................................................................................................... 68
POWERS NECESSARY TO MOVE BLOOD. ....................................................................................................................... 68
VENOUS BLOOD SUSPENDED .......................................................................................................................................... 68
CHAPTER X. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 70
THE FASCIA. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 70
WHERE DISEASE IS SOWN ................................................................................................................................................ 70
AN ILLUSTRATION OF CONCEPTION................................................................................................................................ 70
THE GREATEST PROBLEM................................................................................................................................................. 71
A FOUNTAIN OF SUPPLY .................................................................................................................................................... 71
FASCIA OMNIPRESENT....................................................................................................................................................... 71
CONNECTION WITH THE SPINAL CORD .......................................................................................................................... 72
GOES WITH AND COVERS ALL MUSCLES ....................................................................................................................... 72
PROOFS IN CONTAGION .................................................................................................................................................... 73
STUDY OF NERVES AND FASCIA ...................................................................................................................................... 74
TUMEFY, TUMEFACTION .................................................................................................................................................... 75
MEDICAL DOCTOR'S TREATMENT .................................................................................................................................... 75
CHAPTER XI. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 77
FEVERS. ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 77
BE ARMED WITH FACTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 77
UNION OF HUMAN GASES WITH OXYGEN ...................................................................................................................... 77
FEVER AND NETTLE-RASH ................................................................................................................................................ 78
NATURE CONSTRUCTS TO SUIT A WISE PURPOSE ..................................................................................................... 79
PROCESSES OF LIFE MUST BE KEPT IN MOTION ......................................................................................................... 80
NO SATISFACTION FROM AUTHORS................................................................................................................................ 80
ANIMAL HEAT ....................................................................................................................................................................... 80
SEMEIOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................................................... 81
SYMPTOMATOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................................... 81
POTTER'S DEFINITION OF FEVER .................................................................................................................................... 81
FEVERS ONLY EFFECTS .................................................................................................................................................... 82
RESULT OF STOPPAGE OF VEIN OR ARTERY ............................................................................................................... 83
ANEURISMS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 84
CHAPTER XII. ............................................................................................................................................................................. 85
SCARLET FEVER AND SMALLPOX. ........................................................................................................................................ 85
AS DEFINED BY ALLOPATHY. ............................................................................................................................................ 85
SCARLET FEVER AS DEFINED BY OSTEOPATHY .......................................................................................................... 85
SMALLPOX. ........................................................................................................................................................................... 85
POWER TO DRIVE GREATER THAN IN MEASLES .......................................................................................................... 85
CHAPTER XIII. ............................................................................................................................................................................ 87
A CHAPTER OF WONDERS AND SOME VALUABLE QUESTIONS. ..................................................................................... 87
WONDERS ON THE INCREASE .......................................................................................................................................... 87
WHAT IS LIFE? ...................................................................................................................................................................... 87
HOW IS ACTION PRODUCED ............................................................................................................................................. 88
ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH THE MACHINERY. .................................................................................................................. 88
DUTY OF THE OSTEOPATH................................................................................................................................................ 89
FORMATION OF SACRUM ................................................................................................................................................... 89
THE PELVIS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 89
APPEARANCE OF OEDEMA................................................................................................................................................ 89
DO ALL DISEASES HAVE BEGINNING IN OEDEMA?....................................................................................................... 90
QUESTIONS FOR THE OSTEOPATH ................................................................................................................................. 90
CHAPTER XIV. ............................................................................................................................................................................ 92
HAS MAN DEGENERATED?...................................................................................................................................................... 92
THE ADVENT OF MAN. ........................................................................................................................................................ 92
CARE OF THE STOCK RAISER ........................................................................................................................................... 92
MENTAL DEGENERATION MAKES IT UNPLEASANT FOR THE ORIGINAL THINKER ................................................. 93
ORIGINAL THINKERS OF THE ANCIENTS ........................................................................................................................ 93
METHODS OF HEALING ...................................................................................................................................................... 93
FAILURE OF ALLOPATHY ................................................................................................................................................... 94
PRIMITIVE MAN .................................................................................................................................................................... 94
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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
EVIDENCES OF PREHISTORIC MAN ................................................................................................................................. 95
MENTAL DWARFAGE ........................................................................................................................................................... 95
CHAPTER XV. ....................................................................................................................................................................... 97
OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENT. ............................................................................................................................................. 97
FIVE POINTS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 97
VISCERAL LIST ..................................................................................................................................................................... 97
CARE IN TREATING THE SPINAL CORD ........................................................................................................................... 98
HOW TO TREAT THE SPINAL COLUMN ............................................................................................................................ 98
MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTER OF ALL .............................................................................................................................. 99
PERFECT DRAINAGE .......................................................................................................................................................... 99
WHAT TREATING MEANS ................................................................................................................................................. 100
A NATURAL CURE .............................................................................................................................................................. 100
CHAPTER XVI. .......................................................................................................................................................................... 102
REASONING TESTS. ............................................................................................................................................................... 102
THE VERMIFORM APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................................... 102
OPERATING FOR APPENDICITIS ..................................................................................................................................... 102
EXPELLING POWER OF THE VERMIFORM APPENDIX ................................................................................................ 103
CARE EXERCISED IN MAKING ASSERTIONS ................................................................................................................ 103
REASONING TESTS ........................................................................................................................................................... 104
THE ABDOMEN. .................................................................................................................................................................. 104
A LIST OF UNEXPLAINED DISEASES .............................................................................................................................. 105
CONCLUDING REMARKS .................................................................................................................................................. 106
CHAPTER XVII. ......................................................................................................................................................................... 107
OBSTETRICS. ........................................................................................................................................................................... 107
OVERLOADING ................................................................................................................................................................... 107
BIRTHS................................................................................................................................................................................. 107
PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY ....................................................................................................................................... 108
CAUTION. ............................................................................................................................................................................ 109
SECOND EXAMINATION .................................................................................................................................................... 109
LASCERATION NEED NOT OCCUR ................................................................................................................................. 110
CARE OF CORD .................................................................................................................................................................. 110
SEVERING CORD ............................................................................................................................................................... 110
PUTTING ON BELLY BAND ............................................................................................................................................... 110
DELIVERY OF AFTERBIRTH ............................................................................................................................................. 111
PREPARING FOR MOTHER'S COMFORT ....................................................................................................................... 111
POST-DELIVERY HEMORRHAGE .................................................................................................................................... 111
TREATMENT FOR ............................................................................................................................................................... 112
FOOD FOR MOTHER ......................................................................................................................................................... 112
TREATMENT FOR SORE BREAST ................................................................................................................................... 112
CHAPTER XVIII. ........................................................................................................................................................................ 114
CONVULSIONS. ........................................................................................................................................................................ 114
OLD PHRASES .................................................................................................................................................................... 114
RESULT OF STOPPAGE OF FLUIDS................................................................................................................................ 114
OLD THEORY OF FITS. ...................................................................................................................................................... 115
WHAT THE REAL CAUSE MAY BE ................................................................................................................................... 115
LISTEN FOR THE CAUSE .................................................................................................................................................. 115
WHAT IS A FIT?................................................................................................................................................................... 116
SENSORY SYSTEM DEMANDING NOURISHMENT ....................................................................................................... 116
THE CAUSES ...................................................................................................................................................................... 116
THE REMEDY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 117
DISLOCATION OF THE FOUR UPPER RIBS ................................................................................................................... 117
CHAPTER XIX. .......................................................................................................................................................................... 118
CONCLUDING REMARKS. ...................................................................................................................................................... 118
THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION................................................................................................................................. 118
OFFERING A NEW PHILOSOPHY ..................................................................................................................................... 118
LYMPHATICS AND FASCIA ............................................................................................................................................... 118
A SATISFACTORY EXPERIMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 119
NATURAL WASHING OUT ................................................................................................................................................. 119
CHAPTER XX. ........................................................................................................................................................................... 121
THE SUPERIOR CERVICAL GANGLION. ............................................................................................................................... 121
WITH WHAT IT HAS COMMUNICATION ........................................................................................................................... 121
ITS POSITION...................................................................................................................................................................... 121
ONE OF ITS FUNCTIONS .................................................................................................................................................. 121
STIMULATION OR INHIBITION .......................................................................................................................................... 122

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Philosophy of Osteopathy 1899 A T Still
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
Not a Work of Compilation--Authors Quoted--Method of Reasoning—The Osteopath
an Artist--When I Became an Osteopath--Dr. Neal's Opinion—The Opinions of Others-
-What Studies Necessary--What I Mean by Anatomy--Principles--The Practicing
Osteopath's Guide--The Fascia--Not a pleasing Task--Without Accepted Theories--
Truths of Nature--Body, Motion and Mind--Osteopathy to Cure Disease--The
Osteopath Should Find Health. Page 11
CHAPTER II.
OSTEOPATHIC EXPLORATIONS.
Divisions of the Body--Searching for the Cause--Duty of the Osteopathic Explorer--
Classification and Division--The Abnormal—Nerve Powers--Witnesses to Examine--
Abnormal Growths--Cerebro Spinal Fluid--Body in Perfect Health--Chemistry--
Nature's Chemistry. Page 29
CHAPTER III.
THE HEAD.
A Free Circulation--Death Blows--Something of the Neck--Order of Treatment--The
Pelvis--Brains of Animals--Arterial Motion—Mental Vibrations--Overburdening the
Mind--Hemiplegia. Page 43
CHAPTER IV.
EAR WAX AND ITS USES.
Nature Makes Nothing in Vain--A Successful Experiment--A Question for Ages--The
Position--Meaning of Life--Some Questions Asked--Condition in Certain Diseases
Caused by Cold--Cerumen in Fluid State--Winter Kills Babies--Some Advice to
Mothers--A Case in Point--Connection of the brain and Other Nerves in Digestion--
Unaided Investigation. Page 53
CHAPTER V.
DISEASES OF THE CHEST.
Where Confined--Consumption--Can Consumption Be Cured—Consumption
Described--No Time for Surrender--Cerebral Spinal Fluid--How to Destroy Deadly
Bombs of Decay--Battle of Blood for Life—Miliary Tuberculosis--Conversion of Bodies
Into Gas--Forming a Tubercle--Breeding Contagion--The Seeds of Disease—
Generating Fever--Whooping Cough--Clouds and Lungs Are Much Alike--The
Wisdom of Nature--Water Formed in Lungs--The Law of Fives--Feeble Action of Heart-
-The Heart--From Neck to Heart--Dyspersia or Imperfect Digestion.
Page 68

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