"Osteopathy is practical anatomy and physiology skillfully and scientifically applied as _manual_ treatment of disease." That definition suits better, because of the "manual treatment." If you are a true Osteopath you must do it _all_ with your hands. It will not do to use any mechanical appliances, for if you do you cannot keep up the impression that you are "handling the body with the skilled touch of a master who knows every part of his machine." "The human body is a machine run by the unseen force called life, and that it may run harmoniously it is necessary that there be liberty of blood, nerves, and arteries from the generating point to destination." This definition may be impressive to the popular mind, but, upon analysis, we wonder if any other string of big words might not have had the same effect. "Liberty of blood" is a proposition even a stupid medical man must admit. Of course, there must be free circulation of blood, and massage, or hot and cold applications, or exercise, or anything that will stimulate circulation, is rational. But when "liberty of blood" is mentioned, what is meant by "liberty of arteries"? "Osteopathy seeks to obtain perfect skeletal alignment and tonic ligamentous, muscular and facial relaxation." Some Osteopaths and other therapeutic reformers (?) have contended that medical men purposely used "big words" and Latin names to confound the laity. What must we think of the one just given as a popular definition? A good many Osteopaths are becoming disgusted with the big words, technical terms and "high-sounding nothings" used by so many Osteopathic writers. The limit of this was never reached, however, until an A.B., Ph.D., D.O. wrote an article to elucidate Osteopathy for the general public in an American encyclopedia. It takes scholarly wisdom to simplify great truths and bring them to the comprehension of ordinary minds. If writers for the medical profession want a lesson in the art of simplifying and popularizing therapeutic science, they should study this article on Osteopathy in the encyclopedia. A brief history of Osteopathy is perhaps in place. The following summary is taken from leading Osteopathic journals. As to the personality and motives of its founders I know but little; of the motives of its leading promoters a candid public must be the judge. But judgment should be withheld until all the truth is known. The principles of Osteopathy were discovered by Dr. Andrew T. Still in 1874. He was at that time a physician of the old school practicing in Kansas. His father, brothers and uncles were all medical practitioners. He was at one time scout surgeon under General Fremont. During the Civil War he was surgeon in the Union army in a volunteer corps. It was during the war that he began to lose faith in drugs, and to search for something natural in combating disease.