This school uses very few mineral remedies, but uses many vegetable remedies.  They have introduced a great many vegetable remedies into medical practice and very many of them are useful.

The homeopathic school has benefited very much by the experience of the eclectic system.  This school uses remedies in large and small doses.  Many of them use the homeopathic attenuated drugs.

Osteopathy.—­“The name ‘Osteopathy’ is made up of two Greek words:  ‘Osteon,’ which means ‘bone,’ and ‘pathos,’ which means suffering (to suffer).  ‘Pathy,’ our English equivalent for this word, by usage has come to mean “a system of treatment for suffering or disease.  Hence, viewed strictly from its derivation, this term, Osteopathy, would carry only the meaning of bone suffering, ‘bone disease’ or ‘bone treatment.’”

Definition.—­“Osteopathy is that science of treating human ailments which regards most diseases as being either primarily produced or maintained by an obstruction to the free passage of nerve impulses or blood and lymph flow, and undertakes by manipulation to remove such obstruction so that nature may resume her perfect work.”

[662 Mothers’ remedies]

Explanation.—­“While it is a distinctive theory of osteopathy that disease conditions, not due to a specific poison, are traceable to mechanical disorder in the body, or some part of it, and that the correction of such disorder is not only the rational treatment, but is necessary to the restoration of a permanent condition of health, yet as a palliative treatment appropriate manipulations are occasionally employed to stimulate or inhibit functional activity as conditions may require.  Osteopaths also employ such rational hygienic measures, common to all systems of healing, as has been proven of undoubted value, and take into account environmental influences, habits and modes of life, as affecting the body in maintaining or regaining health.”

The “American School of Osteopathy” is located in Kirksville, Missouri.

The course of study required is of three years duration, of nine months each, and the degree of D. O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) is given to the graduates.

OPERATIONS.

There has been a great change in regard to operations among the laity of late years.  There is much less opposition and prejudice.  The people are being educated to the necessity for operating in many diseases.  A great deal of the opposition was due to the doctors themselves.  There have been doctors who would operate at every opportunity.  Some doctors could not treat a woman for diseases of the womb and ovaries without suggesting that an operation was necessary.  There have been a great many healthy organs removed, or at least organs that could have been saved by proper treatment.  Fortunately such doctors are becoming less in number and there is more discrimination being used.  On the other