Studies in the Osteopathic Sciences; Volume 1

Louisa Burns, one of the first female practitioners and researchers of osteopathy, discusses the guiding principles of osteopathic treatment in this comprehensive study. This edition includes her original illustrations. Each chapter identifies a core concept of osteopathic therapy, and justifies the adoption of the idea. The first notion, that a normal structure of the human body is essential for normal function, may be seen as the overarching principle behind the osteopathic process of treating the bones and skeletal musculature. Yet Louisa Burns focuses on a wide variety of subjects: the relationship between the body's organs and blood; the central nervous system; and the identification of bodily malfunction or disease. Rational therapy and the tackling of disease must - in the view of the competent osteopath - rest upon a sound knowledge of the interrelated system that is the human body. The latter chapters of this volume include physical studies of the specific regions of the body. The arms, legs, heart and lungs are subject to experiments and observation by the physicians; each are manipulated in an effort to understand function and behavior. Although some of these operations appear crude by modern standards, they were valuable in helping osteopaths and other physicians of the day arrive at reasoned conclusions. Read more