Essentials of Osteopathy, Nerve Centers and Landmarks by Isabel Montgomery Davenport
A short volume, divided into 23 lessons, in which the author summarizes the essence of the osteopathic theory in an extremely simplistic manner, the modalities implemented when visiting a patient, nerve connections and anatomical landmarks.
Publisher: Regan Printing House, Chicago, Illinois (USA)
Year of publication: 1903
Number of pages: 112
This booklet was destined to the students enrolled in an osteopathy course by correspondence of the Columbia College of Osteopathy of Ravensburg, Chicago. Dr Davenport repeatedly cites the Principles of Osteopathy by Charles Hazzard, expressing towards the author admiration and gratitude.
The volume makes no claim of originality: it is openly a user-friendly summary for the professional.
In the wake of the success of the American School of Osteopathy (ASO) of Kirksville, numerous courses and institutes of osteopathy of dubious professionalism proliferated, which discredited the category of osteopaths by producing poorly trained practitioners. The AOA prepared a letter to send to various magazines for them to refuse to publish commercials of these diploma mills, some of which would award their degrees by correspondence. Amongst the other initiatives, the ASO promoted another institution (the Associated Colleges of Osteopathy), established in June 1898, with the aim to safeguard the reliability of education.1
Strengths: Of easy reference, this booklet features an analytical index. A small guide with a very practical perspective.
Weaknesses: A concise volume, without figures or anatomical tables. The interest is mainly historical, linked to the phenomenon of the proliferation of schools offering correspondence courses on the wave of the success of the ASO of Kirksville.
- Despite the title awarded by non authorized institutions, at the beginning the osteopaths were often sued to then be discharged by the judges. For example, in the Reports of cases of the State of North Carolina, year 1902, the dispute “STATE v. McKNIGHT” is registered. Harry P. McKnight, with a diploma of the Columbia College of Osteopathy, accused of illicit exercise of the medical profession, is acquitted because in his activity of manipulation, massage, hot and cold baths, he did not prescribe any drugs (Walser, Zeb V. State Reporter. North Carolina Reports vol. 131. Cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of North Carolina. August Term, 1902. Raleigh: Edwards & Broughton, State Printers, 1902, vol. V:717-724.
- Despite the efforts of the most serious institutions, these diploma mills continued to survive, as shown by the commercial of a home course in osteopathy, which appeared on the Nautilus Magazine of New Thought, v.7 no.12, 1904/05:
- Booth E.R. History of Osteopathy and Twentieth-Century Medical Practice. The Caxton Press, Cincinnati, Ohio (USA), 1924:271ss.
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