In 1895, chiropractic was discovered by D.D. Palmer in a small room in the Ryan Building.
Chiropractic grew rapidly, with Dr. Palmer having an infirmary that occupied the entire floor of the Ryan Building.
Dr. B.J. Palmer took over and chiropractic grew even faster. Right came out on top. Huge practices were built -- without the aid of the government and to the distress of the medical profession, whose biggest failure was not getting those sick people well.
Dr. Clarence Gonstead reviewed x-rays for each patient, starting at 6:00 a.m. Patients were seen often until 11:00 p.m.
A practice built on results, not insurance. Soon he had to add a hotel and an airport, for he practiced in a small town in Wisconsin called Mt. Horeb.
John Grostic, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, was an engineer who developed Hodgkin's disease. His life was saved by chiropractic. B.J. Palmer adjusted him and he got well. After graduation, he developed the Grostic procedure, from which NUCCA and the Atlas Orthogonal (Dr. Sweat) procedures were the next generation. Again, a huge practice, without insurance and without government help.
Dr. Lorraine Golden opened Kentuckiana Children's Center without insurance and without government help and continues today, fulfilling her mission, talent and destiny as many others did and are still doing today.
The beautiful auditorium that sits on Palmer's property, the Anton Meister Auditorium, was a donation, back to chiropractic by one chiropractor and there are countless others -- maybe you're one.
The truth is chiropractic will survive. Sick people need chiropractic to get well and well people need chiropractic to keep from getting sick.
It is up to each chiropractor to donate money to the state and national organizations of their choice -- to become a member of something and to stand for something. That something is chiropractic.
B.J. put it this was: "We have an invincible army of people who will fight for their right to get well."
You may ask, "Will my clinic scale down if chiropractic is not included in socialized medicine under the name of national health care?" Absolutely not. As long as there are sick and suffering people out there, there is an ever growing need within me to get them well as I got well from polio many years ago through chiropractic care.
Organize your patients and yourself -- belong to an organization.
Chiropractic needs you; the sick need you. Never before were the words so true. "If it is to be, it is up to me."
What will you do now?
Frederick Vogel, DC
Eastpointe, Michigan