[NOTE: The following description of general osteopathic treatment comes from a book entitled Osteopathy Complete written by E. D. Barber in 1898.]
 
 
GENERAL TREATMENT

1.  Place the patient on the side; beginning at the upper cervicals, move the muscles upward and outward, gently but very deep, the entire length of the spinal column, being very particular in all regions which appear tender to the touch, have an abnormal temperature, or where the muscles seem to be in a knotty, cord-like, or contracted condition.  Treat the opposite side in a similar manner.

2.  With the patient on the back, place the hand lightly over the following organs, vibrating (pages 36 and 67) each two minutes, respectively: lungs, stomach, liver, pancreas, and
kidneys.

3.  Flex the lower limbs, one at a time, against the abdomen, abducting the knee, and abducting the foot, strongly as the limb is extended with a light jerk.
 
4.  Grasping the limb around the thigh with both hands, move the muscles very deeply from side to side the entire length of the limb.  Treat the opposite limb in a similar manner.

5.  Place one hand upon the patient's shoulder, pressing the muscles down toward the point of the acromion process; with the disengaged hand grasp the patient's elbow, rotating the arm around the head.

6.  Holding the arm firmly with one hand, with the other rotate the muscles very deep the entire length of the arm; also grasp the hand, placing the disengaged hand under the axilla, and give strong extension.  Treat the opposite arm in a similar manner.

7.  Place one hand under the chin, the other under the occipital, and give gently but strong extension.

8.  Place one hand under the chin, drawing the head backward and to the side; with the disengaged hand manipulate the muscles which are thrown upon a strain.  Treat the opposite side in a similar manner.  Also manipulate, thoroughly and deep, the muscles in front of the neck.

9.  Place the patient upon a stool; the operator placing the thumbs upon the angles of the second ribs, an assistant raising the arms slowly but strongly above the head as the patient inhales; press hard with the thumbs as the arms are lowered with a backward motion, patient relaxing all muscles and permitting elbows to bend; move the thumbs downward to the next lower ribs; raise the arms as before; and repeat, until the fifth pair of ribs have been treated in a similar manner.

10.  In all cases of fever hold the vaso-motor center.

11.  In cases of diarrhea place the patient face downward: while pressing hard upon the first lumbar vertebra, raise the limbs slowly but strongly as far as patient can stand; press also upon the second, third, and fourth lumbar, raising the limbs in a similar manner.  In severe cases of diarrhea it is also well to vibrate (pages 36 and 67) the bowels two minutes.

VIBRATION [page 36]

Vibration. - We have recently discovered that vibration administered by the hand quickens, stimulates, strengthens, and assists very materially in reducing congestion and inflammation, and is very beneficial in many cases, in addition to the regular osteopathic treatment; in fact, we have cured cases of stammering, asthma, and various other troubles in which we failed to get results by the regular osteopathic manipulations.  Vibration should be applied with a loose wrist-joint, the whole or a part of the palmar surface of the hand or fingers being used.  The movements in the wrist-joint are abduction and adduction, while the movements of the elbow are flexion and extension; the hand lies immovable upon the part of the body on which it rests.  Through a quick succession of individual movements, with a perfectly loose wrist-joint the vibrations are produced.  Flexion and extension of the wrist must be carefully guarded against, as this would produce pressure, which would be injurious in many localities.  In fact, vibration correctly applied is such a wonderful instrument in relieving pain that we cannot impress this one point too forcibly upon the minds of our readers: Always vibrate with a loose wrist-joint, using no greater pressure than the weight of the hand, as the entire benefit to be derived from the treatment is lost if this point is neglected.

VIBRATION  [pages 68 - 69]

Vibrations might be compared to fine shaking movements, in which the whole or part of the palmar surface of the fingers or hand is used.  The benefit to be derived from this treatment depends so largely upon the manner in which it is administered, and the treatment is so applicable in such a variety of cases, that we cannot be too particular in educating ourselves to vibrate correctly.  Place the hand lightly upon the patient, using no pressure.  The movements at the elbow are flexion and extension, while those of the wrist are adduction and abduction.  The vibrations are produced through a succession of quick individual movements.  There should be no straining of the muscles in the operator's arm, or strong contractions of the muscles of the hand, arm, or shoulder.  When given correctly, with the hand on the anterior surface of the thorax, the vibrations can be easily felt by the other hand placed upon the back of the patient while with a stiff hand and arm no motion can be distinguished upon the back.  To further give an idea of how delicately the movements should be made, place a tumbler of water upon a table, and the vibrations are given absolutely correct upon the same, the water will not move from side to side, but simply quicken in the center.  The table should be fairly large to make a fair test.