In the former method after one has worked on one side he is obliged to change to the other side and go through the same process. Movements may also be given to stretch the contracted muscles, thus overcoming the contraction and producing relaxation of the muscles. After having relaxed the muscles over the field of operation, correcting the vertebræ will generally be easier to accomplish. In readjusting an atlas it matters but little whether the patient is sitting up or lying down. A firm hold of the atlas can be gotten in either instance. In correcting the middle and lower cervical vertebræ it is best to place the patient upon the back. In correcting dislocations, as heretofore suggested, two general rules should be followed: (1) Exaggerate or increase the dislocation. This is to relax the tissues about the dislocated articulation and to disengage the articular points that have become locked. (2) Reduce the lesion by retracing the path along which the parts were dislocated. One can readily see that a dislocated ball and socket joint could be reduced only by the dislocated bone retracing the path by which it left its socket, for the capsular ligament would at once prevent its returning to the socket by any path other than that taken when dislocated. This applies to all dislocations to a greater or less extent. After locating the exact position of the abnormal vertebra the first rule is applied, i. e., exaggerating the lesion by flexing the head in the opposite direction to which the vertebra is dislocated. Then with one or two fingers placed firmly upon the side of the vertebra in the direction dislocated, so that when the proper time comes the vertebra may be pushed or slightly rotated back into its normal position, with the other hand produce flexion of the neck, so that the angle of flexion is exactly over the involved vertebra; next produce slight traction, so as to be sure that the articular points will be disengaged; and then with rotation and extension of the head to a normal or upright posture, at the same time pushing in on the disordered vertebra, are the movements to be executed in reducing a dislocated vertebra. It takes considerable practice to be able to correct a vertebra and to know when it is corrected. The amount of force applied varies greatly in different cases. Cases of recent subdislocation require but little force unless there is marked spasticity of tissue, while in long standing cases many times the amount of force required is about all that one wishes to exert. As a rule in many chronic cases it is better to give a series of preparatory treatments in order to reduce muscle fibrosis and thickening of capsular ligament. Remember that often it is a slight rotary movement or twist given that aids the most in executing rule second. No matter to what position a vertebra is rotated or side-bent the principles applied are the same in each case.