By Dr. Herman S. Schwartz

1965 — This is the age of specialization, precision, formulas and of the instantaneous stimulus-response mechanisms. The chiropractor is also becoming influenced by the electronic age. He looks for speed, exactitude and infallibility in his work with fickle, mysterious, complex, biologic, psychologic and social being.

He, too, fondly expects someday to fully comprehend the human being through complex computers to be attached to the spine; furthermore that electronic devices will be created that will tell him with exactitude just where and when and how to adjust the spine. How much force to use, the direction of the move, when to start and when to stop with the adjustings.

Specificity has long been our goal. Now with the event of computers and other electronic instruments, some hopes are high that at long last we can become automated, specific spinal specialists.

So, while we wait for that scientific utopia, let us utilize all the existing tests and devices of diagnosing the person under our care, but let us not forget that we have some adequate and efficient tools to work with. I am referring to the use of our special knowledge and learning, to our intuitive senses and to our general power of observation and, of course, to our unique adjustive skills.

That great promulgator of chiropractic Willard Carver, stated that:

“The basis of diagnosis is observation: It will be seen that the individual who would become a diagnostician must become an expert observer, and must learn that he cannot put aside or neglect the most simple and apparently unimportant circumstance. “The chiropractor’s entire diagnosis is directed to the observation of effects upon the spine. The vertebral subluxation is nothing but an effect [an effect of some or of all the stresses and strains — anatomical, physical, chemical, emotional and social — that the person has undergone or is undergoing].”

Acute and concerned observation can often reveal and explain to us the cause of the patient’s difficulty. The more we understand the person, the more it becomes crystal clear what remedial means are necessary to adequately cope with the total problem facing the patient.

The remedial means may be increased or lessened spinal adjustings, the addition of simple, rational and natural aid or procedures or psychological guidance or making a referral. No prudent chiropractor will either prolong his ministrations when results are not forthcoming, nor will he make hasty referrals.

Just as soon as we talk ourselves into being a spinal specialist, we lose our entire perspective of the patient’s health needs and of the comprehensive principles of chiropractic. We lose much more than we can ever possibly gain.

Let us consider a man under stress; a “simple?” subluxation may often be a cover-up for his conflicting complexes, inner emotional conflicts, organ inferiorities, chemical deficiencies, environmental disadvantages, social pressures and/or as a result of his basic compensating anatomical distortions. (About 50% of our patients have a strong emotional component along with their physical complaints —Dr. W.H. Quigley.)

The distressed person under our care needs not merely a spinal specialist. He is in great need of the modern chiropractor who looks upon him as more than a spine, but as a total human being.

To adequately care for the person who entrusts his well being to us is often easier than it appears in print —if we would only free ourselves from our self-made mental prisons and self-imposed degrading and devastating limitations.

When the person appears to be in excellent good health and has merely sustained a minor subluxation, then we must not make a big case out of his minor difficulty. To do so will give you and the profession a lasting economic black eye.

This is the usual procedure to follow to obtain good results with the chronic patient.

• We make the complete chiropractic analysis.

• All the indicated diagnostic procedures are utilized including some psychological tests.

• Adequate history taking is of the essence.

• The spinal adjustings are given.

• His diet and nutritional habits are checked and corrected.

• The necessary health advice is given regarding sleep, rest, exercise, breathing, relaxation etc.

• The opportunity is also given the patient (within a limited time) to unburden his emotional distress, but no mental probing.

• A member of the family is invited so as to learn how to help the patient to fully co-operate with the doctor.

Let us give the patient the full opportunity to get well under our care. This is the history of chiropractic as it was and is practiced by many. If our profession is to endure, we must present to the world a comprehensive system of scientific, rational, humane and natural healing.

Science and anatomic adjustive technology are important in our profession, but they are not everything. They have answers to the problems of illness, but not all the answers. We must incorporate the elements of natural and rational living and psychotherapy in our practice. Being known as good anatomical technicians may insure our mere limited existence — as a specialty — but it cannot help us to advance, to progress to our rightful position in the world of healing.

If we are to be a profession of distinction, human values must survive. We must think and care for the patient as a distinct person in his full dignity, not merely as a subluxated vertebra. We must utilize many sturdy natural (non medical) bridges to better health besides the adjustment of the spine.

Let us evaluate the historic wonders of chiropractic for the ails of mankind — although we do not yet fully understand how it works.

We can gain a sense of prudent self importance when we contemplate our rich history of accomplishments, it can fill us with self respect. It should make us resolve to protect chiropractic and not barter it away for immediate temporary gains. We can be masters of our destiny, but it is tied up with our day-by-day behavior toward our patients. When we will care for the people who come to us with understanding, with skill, concern and humaneness, our destiny as a major healing profession will be assured, just as day follows the night.