What was the real relationship of Andrew Still and David Palmer?

History of manual medicine can be dated back as early as 400 BCE. However, Chiropractic and Osteopathy are better known disciplines in manual medicine. Both were founded in the USA. Osteopathy was founded by Andrew Still in 1872 and Chiropratic was founded by David Palmer in 1895. As there are lots of similarities in the manipulative techniquesof adjusting the musculoskeletal disorders, there have been rumors whether Dr. Palmer was a student of Dr. Still.



Andrew Taylor Still, MD,DO



Daniel David Palmer, DC

 Many accounts of the history of osteopathy mention that one of Dr Still's early students was David Palmer. Palmer reportedly studied with Dr Still for only about six weeks. However, the association between Dr Still and Palmer is usually not mentioned in accounts of the history of chiropractic. According to the textbook “An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment” by Eileen L. DiGiovanna, and al., Dr. Palmer spent at least one week with Dr. Still in 1893.

Here is an interesting chiropractic account of Dr. Palmer and Dr. Still’s relationship. Still vs. Palmer: A Remembrance of the Famous Debate

• "I maintain that chiropractic is a child of osteopathy," Dr. Still sustained.
• "Of all the known therapeutic systems, osteopathy is the only one which bears any similarity, because both work on the spine," acknowledged Dr. Palmer. "If related, they would be distant cousins."
•  "Bull dribble! Chiropractors have usurped part of osteopathy and are faking it shamelessly!"
• "The practitioners of massage and Swedish movements have made the same claim about osteopathy!"
• "The general osteopathic treatment is far more than a combination of massage and Swedish movements," pointed out Dr. Still. "It includes rib stretching, modified spinal column stretching and spinal manipulation."