Daniel David Palmer D.C.

The History of Chiropractic

Over one hundred years ago, the founder of the chiropractic profession, Daniel David Palmer, reportedly used spinal manipulation to restore a deaf janitor's hearing. A series of events following this incident led to the development of the  Chiropractic profession, which now stands as one of the largest health care professions in the United States and the world.  In the late 19th century, health care was a craft more than an art. The integration of science into treatment methods and training protocols was severely lacking. The growth of health care alternatives included a wide variety of competing practitioners. Chiropractic emerged from a wellness-oriented environment.  In the early 20th century, medical providers possessed the "cultural authority" and respect of those who influenced decision-making at the health care level. Opposition to unorthodox practitioners increased, and doctors of chiropractic were frequently charged with practicing medicine without a license. The chiropractic response was to develop a system distinct from medicine. While medicine searched for a disease process, assigned labels to disorders, and prescribed the "medicine of the day," chiropractic rejected the use of drugs and surgery as treatment options. Chiropractic grew as a completely natural approach to healing, drawing on the body's own recuperative powers.