At the commencement of the twentieth century an English phy­sician by the name of Henry Head discovered and disclosed a new method of diagnosis, which, most unfortunately, has largely faded into oblivion from the minds of the elite in medical circles; but which is now being revived especially on the Continent, so that it is sure of receiving full recognition in the perhaps not too distant future.

In the year 1889, Dr. Head showed that an important con­nection or association existed between the internal organs and certain spots on the surface of the human body. He stated (I now translate from the German):

"The sensitivity is not deep or only situated in the skin or subcutaneously. These sensitive zones have a definite relationship with the different diseased organs; but in many cases they (the zones) are far removed from the organs. The pain occasioned by the irritation is not brought about by any action upon the organ itself, for this latter can be a considerable distance from the sensi­tive surface area. Moreover, the sensitivity can be on the right side of the body, although the organ affected is on the left."

These tender areas, mostly elicited on pressure by the pal­pating fingers of the practitioner, are termed the "Zones of Head," and they are to be found all over the body. But, Dr. Head was by no means the first to throw light upon the connection between the surface of the body and the carefully guarded secrets of the inner organs of the human organism, and thus to find out the state of these organs. Long ago the wisdom of the Far East had already discovered this connection. Dr. George Soulie de Morant, a brilliant connoisseur and promulgator of Chinese medical know­ledge, stated that the ancient idea of the relationship between the surface of the body and diseases of the internal organs goes far back as the late neolithic age.

The Chinese had discovered that a whole lot of points on the body surface were painful when an internal organ was disordered and that pressure on these surface-points caused the patient to feel an acute pain.

Also the Japanese in past ages had profited from the Chinese knowledge and developed it further. In A.D. 443 the Emperor of Japan caused physicians to come from Korea so that they could bring with them the Chinese teachings, and at the beginning of the seventh century a delegation of Japanese doctors went to China in order to acquire knowledge of the Chinese method of healing the sick and to bring it back with them to Japan.

Traces of the Chinese teachings can be found among other cultured peoples, e.g., the Arabs, Tibetans; but in the West little was known of these experiences.

It was only in the middle of the last century that a number of western doctors busied themselves with the reflex problem. In 1834, the founder of the Swedish Gymnastics, Dr. Ling, estab­lished that there was a painful spot present in heart disease on rubbing over the fourth and sixth dorsal nerves; and his school also discovered that there were definite areas of spinal tenderness or sensitivity in, for example, gastric disorders, these tender points being in the region of the sixth and eighth dorsal nerves on the left half of the body. Likewise in 1834 the brothers William and Daniel Griffin of America found that a connection existed between certain disease symptoms and certain areas of the spinal cord. It has been stated elsewhere that the theories of the osteopaths and chiropractors have been built up on the work of the Griffin brothers and of Marshall Halls, the osteopaths and chiropractors associating diseases of the organs with displacements of bones of the spinal column and other joints.

Dr. Abrams too found various regions on the body surface, which as the result of diseased organs, were acutely painful. He appears to have been the first to style such painful areas as "trans­ferred pain." He treated them by "Psycho-therapy" (not to be confused with psycho-therapy) which is a treatment by freezing, either by ethyl chloride or some other freezing mixture, or by plain, small ice blocks covered with common salt. Another method adopted by this doctor was "Spondylotherapy" to induce a reflex curative action in an organ. This was done by concussion directly over the spinal segment involved or by percussion along side of it, i.e. on the transverse processes of the vertebra or vertebrae. Thus percussion on the transverse processes of the seventh cervical vertebra can effect a temporary lowering of high blood pressure, and if persisted in over a period may bring about a permanent improvement. Percussion in this area is also most useful in relieving spasms of asthma and angina-pectoris.

Another doctor to recognize the painful spots on the body surface as being due to visceral reflex was a Dr. C. Lange of Denmark in 1875. The appreciation of this fact, then and since, in diagnosis led to actual appropriate therapeutic measures which are happily proving so successful in our day, especially on the Continent.

A couple of years ago I obtained from Germany a book by Dr. Cornelius on "Nerve Points" (Nervenpunkte) formerly known as "Pressure Points" (Druckpunkte). In this work Dr. Cornelius describes the origin of these nerve points, how they arise, their significance and treatment by reflex therapy. These nerve points are tender spots, varying in acuteness, and they can be found not only along the spine and on the back, but anywhere else on the body surface. Anyone who has undergone an osteopathic examin­ation and treatment, as well as those who have received massage can unhesitatingly testify to the exquisite sensitivity of these parti­cular spots on pressure being applied to them; but they have not been given the attention and treatment they undoubtedly merit simply because their influence upon the body welfare has not been appreciated. Before full health can be restored and maintained, these painful points must be sought for, treated and eradicated, either by the most effective method devised by Dr. Cornelius him­self or by any other special technique which accomplishes this and which removes causes of symptoms by reflex action.

Cornelius was asked to describe his technique in a book, which he was most reluctant to do as you will see from what he writes (I now translate):

"When I now carry out the wishes from many quarters that I describe my technique, I do so with not too easy a mind. I hold the view that this extremely delicate technique cannot be learnt from the written word; but only by treating patients in a practical manner under the constant supervision of an expert. Without question there are a few who are gifted with a special sensitive touch which enables them to acquire the technique and who can find their way alone..."

The first essential then to the practice of Cornelius's method is that the operator must have a most delicate sense of touch—a discerning hypersensitivity in the balls of the fingers. In some individuals this sensitivity of touch is inborn, whilst in others not so endowed, it can be achieved by practice, patience and experience provided they possess a "bent" "in that particular direction.

It should be obvious then that this method (or any other for that matter) must never be undertaken by a practitioner, who has not thoroughly studied every aspect of the subject and acquired the necessary delicacy and skill in putting it into practical effect, as there can be unpleasant reactions arising out of the treatment, which must be understood and knowledgably dealt with accord­ingly. The ultimate result, be it soon or late, of this particular form of therapy can, however, be most spectacular, improvements and actual cures being permanent. After the object of the treatment has been attained, patients are urged to come for a periodical check-up and for further treatment should this be so indicated. This check-up should take place at least twice in the year, because the painful surface areas can recur in the course of modern living.

There are adverse factors and those we manufacture ourselves over which one does not exercise sufficient conscious control in dealing with them or in avoiding their occurrence. Neglect of these painful nerve points can lead to more or less serious illnesses. In any case they can be and are responsible for a lot of nervous tension and irritability. Where there is mental tension there is also physical tension; where there is physical tension there is an interference with normal bodily processes. One accepts the idea that it is necessary, or at least expedient, to seek the attention of a hairdresser or one's dentist at more or less regular intervals. Why then should one be indifferent to the possible therapeutic needs of the body?

It appears that the treatment releases pent-up energy confined within each surface spot that is found to be painful, from which, I venture to say, not a single individual is entirely free. The reflex action from the periphery of the body explains the unqualified success of osteopathy, the therapeutic effect of which cannot be wholly attributed to the adjustment of a vertebra or bone as such, but rather to the reflex action that is induced by the particular manipulation in a specific manner, according to the nature of the case, and influencing the organ involved, via the spinal segment under treatment. And here is an appropriate place to attempt to dispel a very prevalent idea which still exists in the minds of numerous members of the general public, that actual disease con­ditions cannot be treated by osteopathy, which they regard as a treatment confined to "misplaced" bones, strains, sprains and lower back pain, usually styled lumbago. In view of the foregoing ex­planation of reflex-therapy it should now be easier for those who cannot conceive of diseases being successfully treated by outward body manipulations, to become convinced that they can. There are, of course, exceptions, but even in those diseases which cannot be directly affected by osteopathy, suitable adjustments to the bony structure and osteopathic soft tissue-work on the skin, muscles and ligaments will so improve the nerve and blood supply especially to the affected areas, that considerable improvement in the general condition of the patient will be achieved so that his ultimate cure or near-cure can not only be facilitated but also hastened; but it is, of course a "sine qua non" that he must carry out the osteopath's instructions to change those habits of living that may be inimical to his full recovery.

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