HEART DISEASES: DIAGNOSIS - NO CAN DO

Some years ago, at a time when the medical profession was alarmed by the challenge of unorthodox therapies, a group of specialists attempted to expose the claims of those who practised manipulative treatment. Their 'exposure' was dutifully reported to the public, and among their claims was one which particularly intrigued James C. Thomson. It was to the effect that no control could be exercised over the heart by manipulative methods, and their 'proof consisted of the report that they had tried it for themselves, and had failed! J.C.T. 's commentary is worth recalling:

In any other field of human endeavour such testimony would be an insult to the intelligence. It should be obvious that no untrained person is likely to achieve success in highly technical work.

The argument that because Tom and Dick cannot do this, it cannot be done by Harry, is untenable. For example, I cannot play a violin. My sincerest efforts have resulted in complete failure. This is no proof that real music cannot be produced from the instrument; nor does it justify me in agitating against Heifitz, or giving vent to my pique and frustration by insisting that laws should be passed making the use of the fiddle on the concert platform illegal.

That a group of specialists found it impossible to obtain a certain result is one thing. To claim that this proves it impossible of accomplishment is false reasoning.

In his original work, Heart Disease Prevention and Cure, J.C.T. went on to reproduce the wording of a statement, signed by eight of his students, witnessing the effects of manipulative controls on heart action as shown by X-ray, soundings, pulse and blood-pressure readings. It was an unambiguous statement, by trained observers, of a set of phenomena which we accept as everyday parts of our methods. It need not be reproduced here in full, because our one-time challengers have lost interest, They are too busy trying to explain away the fearful failures of 'miracle medication' to be concerned about our activities! However, we should not be complacent; the dog-in-manger attitude persists powerfully, and the automatic response of attempting to disprove and discredit rather than of interest and investigation still comes forth when any unorthodoxy is brought to medical attention. (As a recent example, remember the instant and intense disapproval of Dr Issels' methods.)

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