We Get Letters & E-Mail

"... wild collection of total b.s."

Dear Editor,

It is rare that I write concerning anything that I see in a publication, but I just had to drop you a line to thank you for tipping me to the book, Chiropractic: The Victim's Perspective by George Magner in the latest issue of Dynamic Chiropractic.

I went to my local bookstore and picked it up yesterday. I haven't had time to read anything more than the forward by William T. Jarvis, PhD, but I've got to say it has been a long time since I've had the pleasure of going through such a wild collection of total b.s.! If the rest of the book is as good, every chiropractor and chiropractic patient from coast to coast is going to be getting lots of adjustments for "elusive" rib subluxations caused by falling on the floor laughing! Great stuff! Keep it coming.

Thomas Engelsman, DC
Woodridge, Illinois

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank Dr. Gatterman in her attempt to muddy the waters in her article, "Do Chiropractors Manipulate or Adjust?" (October 23, 1995 issue of "DC"). She uses the term "thrust" to describe manipulation, and "force, leverage, direction amplitude and velocity" to describe adjustment. Frankly, I don't get it.

We know that physical therapists and osteopaths manipulate. Do they thrust? Is not a thrust "force, leverage, direction amplitude and velocity?" Maybe Dr. Timothy Johnson is right when he says that physical therapists and osteopaths do the same thing as chiropractors.

The bottom line is the "politics" of developing a nomenclature that allows those who can't adjust, won't adjust, and don't believe in the adjustment to still be able to call themselves chiropractic doctors. If the current trend continues (that of doctors matriculating from our colleges who have never been adjusted and taught by professors who never adjust) we can expect then that in a democracy a rose is anything the majority says it is and you can call me: Dr. Don Hackett, manipulating osteopathic, physiotherapeutic type doctor (who primarily adjusts, but don't tell anyone) of chiropractic.

Don Hackett, DC
Palmdale, California

Dear Editor,

In an item labeled "Interesting Quote" (Dynamic Chiropractic November 20, 1995, p. 26), a classic fallacy of reasoning, the non sequitur, is offered. You provide a quote from USA Today and a follow-up comment: "This unsettling information about prescriptions demonstrates once again that chiropractic care can be a natural -- and safe -- alternative to pharmaceutical treatment by MDs.

The quotation from USA Today is indeed unsettling, to say the least. However, the conclusion you draw shows no relationship whatever to the premise. Your comment amounts to saying:

"A" is bad, therefore "B" must be good.

Even if all medications and all surgeries were shown to be deadly or ineffective, this would tell us absolutely nothing about the "naturalness," safety, nor effectiveness of chiropractic care. We cannot "demonstrate" the usefulness and safety of chiropractic care. As to whether or not chiropractic care is "natural," I would ask you to define your terms. In what sense is thrusting into peoples' joints "natural"?

Joseph Keating Jr., PhD
Professor, LACC

Dear Editor,

We are deeply appreciative for your message of PAAC's 20th anniversary. We really don't know how to thank you for all your kindness and generosities. We look forward to a continuation of our relationship and cooperation. In the meantime, if we can ever reciprocate your kindness and hospitality, we stand ready and eager to do so.

Tsutomu Watanabe
President, Pacific Asia
Association of Chiropractic (PAAC)

Dear Editor,

Your article of September 23rd ("Enough Is Enough") is the best overall treatment of our predicament I've seen since it all began.

This debacle needs to create a riot early rather than later, when all finally awaken to what it all means.

James Parker, DC, BA, FICC, FACC, FICA
Founder/President, Parker College of Chiropractic

Dear Editor,

In reviewing the very informative and historical article written by Dr. Keating Jr. ("Chiropractic Institute of New York, Remembering an Intellectual Heritage," "DC", October 23, 1995), I was honored to be listed as part of the faculty of 1962-1963. However, it would be remiss to any graduate from the "Institute," from its inception until 1978, not to mention a dynamic faculty member who was omitted: Dr. Michael A. Grecco.

Dr. Grecco practiced for 40 years and was on the faculty from the school's inception, and eventually became vice president when Dr. Thure C. Peterson was president. His teaching of chiropractic technique was known worldwide due to his lecturing throughout the country, Canada, and Europe. He wrote a textbook, Chiropractic Technique Illustrated, which was used not only at the CINY, but also at the CCNY and the University of Rome, School of Medicine, department of orthopedics.

I would appreciate if you would forward this information to Dr. Keating Jr. for further reference.

Louis Grecco, BA, DC, MD, FACOG
Staten Island, New York

Dear Editor,

I read with great interest and much nostalgia the chiropractic history article by Joseph Keating Jr., PhD in your October 23 issue.

Although much of my chiropractic education took place at the "Fountainhead," Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, I consider myself especially grateful for having had a friend, an instructor/professor, later a colleague and mentor (while we were both on the Palmer faculty) who had been a graduate of the Chiropractic Institute of New York. His name was Alexander J. DiPaolo. Dr. DiPaolo, or Alex, as his friends called him, had received a very outstanding education at the CINY probably around the early or middle 1950s. Although he was perhaps somewhat controversial at times in his thinking on the Palmer campus, as a faculty member I would easily have to consider him as having been one of the best educated persons I have known in chiropractic, a heritage he received from CINY.

Both as a chiropractic student, faculty member, and even while in practice, I was a frequent visitor as many students were to Alex's home. Especially when challenged, Alex had a brilliant mind and was always ready to discuss chiropractic in any way, shape, or form. He was also able to bring in other knowledge from related sciences, arts, and philosophies to the discussions. When motivated, his lectures were probably among the best I have ever heard on just about any subject, but certainly chiropractic, biomechanics, neurophysiology, structure, function, and technique.

Dr. Alex J. DiPaolo passed away in late 1990. He had been a clinician in private practice for several years and a beloved (by students) faculty member at both Palmer and later Life College of Chiropractic prior to his death. I considered him a chiropractic scholar in many ways and also consider him a very notable alumni of CINY. Alex put the knowledge he received from many of those other great educators and chiropractors at CINY to good use: He used it to help patients and educate others in our profession.

Richard Vahl, MSc, DC
Cape Coral, Florida

Dear Editor,

I have a comment on the "editorial question" on the front cover of the October 23, 1995 issue: "In the face of health care reform, is the chiropractic profession coming together, or coming apart?"

It is coming apart -- of its own volition. My diploma refers to my satisfactory accomplishment of the art and science of chiropractic and my license refers to satisfactory evidence of accomplishing the science of chiropractic. There is no reference on either to the philosophy of chiropractic. It is an art and science. It would seem that only those without equanimity of character refer to it as a philosophy. If those who constitute its provider population found themselves able to avoid an insular prejudice regarding their profession, it might be possible to establish an affable relationship with the other members of the health care community.

Having been in the health care field as a DC and as a PT for over 30 years, I feel I have significant experience from which to draw my conclusions. Integration means life; isolation means death. Health care reform is here to stay.

R. Vincent Davis, DC, PT
Independence, Missouri