“Osteopathic spinal centers” was a term commonly used in the early period of osteopathic development. From the facts, first, that a few centers have been actually determined in the cord, viz., genito-urinary, vasomotor, etc.; second, that the innervation from the spinal segment to various thoracic, abdominal and pelvic viscera correspond with a considerable degree of accuracy to certain vertebral sections, and third, displacements of tissues of the spinal column affect viscus integrity, depending upon the locality of the structural perversion as to the organ involved and is a clinical observation of great import, arose the misnomer “osteopathic centers.” For one to ask what “centers” should be “treated” in this or that disease shows a lack of the conception of osteopathy as if he asked what “movements” to give when “treating” a certain disorder. It is as unosteopathic, as it is unscientific, broadly speaking, to suppose osteopathic technique implies the application of movements to certain nerve centers. Osteopathic Stimulation “Osteopathic stimulation” is another term loosely used without extensive clinical experience to support it. Mechanical stimulation is frequently utilized in the physiological laboratory. But to employ it extensively and comprehensively in the treating room or at the bedside the therapeutic potency of it will be found wanting; that is, to employ it to the exclusion of that most important basic treatment, readjustment, is a great mistake. Clinically, the pathologically slowed heart may be stimulated by a stimulus to the cervical sympathies, the gall-bladder emptied by a stimulus near the costal cartilages of the ninth and tenth ribs (this is probably via the spinal segments), etc. Normally, these organs and others may be temporarily stimulated. Experimentally, Burns[33] of Los Angeles and Pearce[34] of San Francisco have shown the potency of osteopathic mechanical stimulation. For example, stimulation (mechanical) in the middle and lower dorsal regions irritates and increases peristaltic action and vaso-constriction in the stomach and intestines. Osteopathic Inhibition Likewise the term “osteopathic inhibition” has not always been scientifically employed. Mechanical inhibition is probably used less frequently than stimulation but still it is of more importance. Probably the true interpretation of considerable of so-termed stimulatory and inhibitory efforts, is simply one of normalization of tissues, physiologic equilibrium resulting from such changes.