The First Chiropractic Adjustment: A Historic Moment
The modern era of Chiropractic began on September 18, 1895, when Harvey Lillard walked into the office of D.D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic. Harvey Lillard had been deaf for 17 years, following an injury where he heard a ‘snap’ in his neck. He noted a bump in the area shortly after and had consulted multiple doctors, but none were able to help, with some even suggesting he was born with it.
D.D. Palmer, intrigued by Lillard’s story, asked if he could examine the bump. Palmer reasoned that if the formation of the bump coincided with Lillard’s loss of hearing, perhaps reducing the bump could help restore his hearing. Lillard agreed, and Palmer began thrusting on the bump over the course of three consecutive days.
On the third day, something extraordinary happened—Harvey Lillard jumped up and exclaimed, “I can hear! I can hear, Doc!” Lillard had regained his hearing and could hear the rumble of horse-drawn trolleys on the cobblestone streets four storeys below. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of chiropractic care, giving rise to the art, science, and philosophy of spinal adjustments that continues to evolve today.
