Daniel David Palmer

Daniel David Palmer

Daniel David Palmer, founder of chiropractic

Daniel David Palmer (March 7, 1845 – October 20, 1913) was a Canadian-American chiropractor who is considered the founder of chiropractic. Palmer was born in Pickering, Ontario, and later moved to the United States, where he developed the theory and practice of chiropractic.

Early Life

Daniel David Palmer was born in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He emigrated to the United States in 1865, where he worked in various jobs, including as a beekeeper and a school teacher. Palmer had a keen interest in magnetic healing, a popular alternative medicine practice in the 19th century.

Development of Chiropractic

In 1895, Palmer performed what is considered the first chiropractic adjustment on a janitor named Harvey Lillard. Lillard had been deaf for 17 years, and Palmer claimed that the adjustment restored his hearing. This event marked the beginning of chiropractic as a distinct form of health care.

Palmer believed that many diseases were caused by misalignments of the spine, which he termed "subluxations." He theorized that these subluxations interfered with the body's nervous system, and that correcting them could restore health.

Palmer School of Chiropractic

In 1897, Palmer founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. The school became the first institution dedicated to the teaching of chiropractic. Palmer's son, B.J. Palmer, later took over the school and expanded its influence.

Controversies and Legacy

Palmer's ideas were controversial, and he faced opposition from the medical community. He was even jailed briefly for practicing medicine without a license. Despite this, chiropractic grew in popularity and is now a widely practiced form of alternative medicine.

Palmer's legacy lives on through the many chiropractic schools and practitioners around the world. His work laid the foundation for a profession that continues to evolve and adapt to new scientific findings.

Related Pages

• Chiropractic
• B.J. Palmer
• Palmer College of Chiropractic
• Alternative medicine