=The Neck and Head.=—In the treatment of the neck the patient may assume the sitting posture or lie flat upon the back. The latter is preferable, as then one has complete control of the neck and head. Absolute control of a part is always necessary and when this is secured the dangers are reduced to a minimum, provided always that reasonable discretion as to the amount of strength, is used. Before correcting the various deviations of the cervical vertebræ it is usually best to thoroughly relax all the muscles, superficial and deep, about the field of operation. In relaxing muscles three methods may be employed. The muscle may be firmly grasped and manipulated until relaxed, or a firm pressure may be exerted upon the muscle and thus inhibit its nerve force until the muscle relaxes, or the muscle may be longitudinally stretched. The second method is comparatively slow and is usually given in acute cases where the patients are so weak and exhausted that they cannot stand any severe manipulation. This method, however, has certain advantages when employed as a preparatory step in interosseous adjustments, though steady traction accompanied with slight rotation, if precisely localized, has many advocates. In relaxing muscles by manipulation, grasp firmly the belly of the muscle and draw outward on the muscle several times until it relaxes. If the patient is sitting, place one hand upon the head of the patient or about the chin in such a manner that complete control of the head is maintained throughout the procedure; then with the fingers of the other hand upon the contracted muscular fibres a manipulating or kneading of the muscle can be given. It is best to flex the neck and head to the side where the contracted muscles are, so that a better hold of the muscle may be maintained; then by a series of flexions and extensions with manipulation of the contracted muscles outward, results can be readily obtained. When the patient is lying on the back the physician may stand to one side of the patient’s head and with one hand on the forehead of the patient and the other hand around the opposite side of the neck, a rotary motion of the head and neck, which is equal to flexion and extension in the sitting posture, may be given by the hand on the frontal region while the other hand relaxes the muscles; or the osteopath may stand at the head of the patient and with either hand on the side of the head and neck of the patient a series of rotary movements of the head and neck may be given with manipulation of first one side of the neck and then the other; the hands and fingers being placed in such a manner that when the fingers of one hand are relaxing the muscles on its side the other hand is executing the movements of the head and neck, each hand continually alternating in the work. This latter method requires some practice in order to do the work readily and successfully, for quite a variety of movements are required.