History
A Brief History of Chiropractic Medicine
The first recorded chiropractic adjustment was performed on September 18, 1895, by Dr.
Daniel David Palmer, a Canadian-born teacher. Dr. Palmer was, at the time, studying the
cause and effect of disease. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a janitor working in the
same building as Dr. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Lillard, who had complained of hearing
problems for over 17 years, allowed Dr. Palmer to examine his spine. Dr. Palmer discovered
a "lump" on Mr. Lillard's neck and suspected that a vertebra might be out of place, which
he then repositioned the vertebra with a gentle thrust. After several such treatments,
much of Mr. Lillard's hearing was restored.
Since Dr. Palmer's first chiropractic adjustment, the art and science of chiropractic has
progressed significantly. Today, advanced diagnostic procedures, sophisticated equipment,
scientific research, and the growing acceptance among other health care professionals makes
chiropractic a popular health care choice.