History of Osteopathy and Twentieth-Century Medical Practice by Emmons Rutledge Booth

A milestone in the history of osteopathy. Emmons Rutledge Booth, who enrolled at the ASO in Kirksville in 1898 and graduated in 1900, met A.T. Still personally.

Publisher: Press of Jennings and Graham, Cincinnati (Ohio)

Year of publication: 1905. Second edition: Caxton Press, 1924

Number of pages: 482. Second edition: 886

 

 

 

 

 

The first edition of 1905 sold out within six months. A second edition was published in 1906 with some typos corrected.

While preparing for the writing of this book, E.R. Booth sent a circular letter – also published in the Journal of Osteopathy1 – to ask everyone who had something to share for any piece of information about both A.T.Still and the beginnings of osteopathy. In the same letter he announced his intention to write a volume which he hoped would be ready by the year 1904. 

Some chapters were were previewed in the Journal of Osteopathy,2 and after having been passed on to the press the book obtained very favorable reviews, for example in the JAOA.3 

First and second edition (1905, 1906)

The index at the beginning of the volume is clear and contains detailed information on the content of each of the thirteen chapters and the analytical index at the end of the book facilitates its consultation even more.

Revised and expanded edition (1924)

The 1924 edition preserved the layout of the first edition, keeping the chapters unchanged. Nevertheless, the second part of the volume, although organized along the lines of the first editions, contains some additions to each of the old chapters, as well as three new chapters.

 

Strengths: an inexhaustible source of information on the beginnings of osteopathy. A document of primary importance not only for historians.

E.R. Booth uses clear language and pays attention to the sources.

Weaknesses: the 1924 edition remained the same as the previous one and all additional parts were not incorporated into the text, but added at the end of the chapters of the first edition. Although the index clearly describes the layout of the work, the consultation is a little difficult.

Prima e seconda edizione (1905, 1906)

Chapter I – Dr. Andrew Taylor Still pp. 1-43

Chapter II – Sviluppo dell’osteopatia pp. 44-70

Chapter III – Scuole di osteopatia pp. 71-94

Chapter IV – Regolamentazione legislative dell’osteopatia pp. 95-161

Chapter V – Osteopatia e tribunali pp. 162-201

Chapter VI – Osteopatia e pubblico pp. 202-219

Chapter VII – Osteopatia e professione medica pp.220-249

Chapter VIII – Organizzazioni osteopatiche pp. 250-280

Chapter IX – Letteratura osteopatica pp. 281-293

Chapter X – Pietre miliari nella storia della medicina pp. 294-324

Chapter XI – Farmaci nella pratica medica pp. 325-363

Chapter XII – Procedure non farmacologiche nella pratica medica pp. 364-393

Chapter XIII – Principi e pratica dell’osteopatia pp.394-419

Revised and extended edition (1924) 

Chapter I – Il dr. Andrew Taylor Still pp. 1-43 – additions pp. 420-479

Chapter II – Development of osteopathy pp. 44-70 – additions pp. 480-529

Chapter III – Osteopathic schools  pp. 71-94 – additions pp. 530-555

Chapter IV – Osteopathic legislation pp. 95-161–additions pp. 559-61

Chapter V – Osteopathy and the courts pp. 162-201– additions pp. 559-612

Chapter VI – Osteopathy and the people pp. 202-219– 

Chapter VII – Osteopatia and the medical profession pp.220-249– additions pp. 613-645

Chapter VIII – Osteopathic organizations pp. 281-293– additions pp. 665-681

Chapter X – Landmarks in the history of medicine pp. 294-324–additions pp. 682-699

Chapter XIII – Principles and practice of osteopathy pp. 394-419 – additions pp. 682-699

Chapter XI – Drugging in medical practice pp. 325-363 

Chapter XII – Other preceding than drugging in medical practice pp. 364-393 – additions pp. 700-72

Chapter XIV – Hospitals, sanatoriums, clinics pp. 724-755

Chapter XV – Claims and progress of medicine pp. 756-789

Chapter XVI – National affairs, the world war pp. 780-823

  1. Booth E.R. “A Proposed History of OsteopathyJournal of Osteopathy, November 1903.
  2. Osteopathy and the People” (Chapter VI of E.R. Booth’s “History of Osteopathy,” now in course of preparation) Journal of Osteopathy, October 1904.
  3. The History of Osteopathy and 20th Century Medical PracticeJAOA, v.5, n.2, October 1905:93-94.

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Francesca Galiano

editor

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