We Get Letters & E-Mail

Military Demonstration Project: "Preliminary results showing a high level of satisfaction..."

Dear Editor:

As the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards' appointee to the Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project Oversight Committee, I read with great interest the article by Sgt.

Lynn Grosvenor, DC, RT, U.S. Army.

For reasons outlined by Dr. Grosvenor in her article and many more, the U.S. Congress legislated that chiropractic services be provided on a demonstration basis to the military community. These are available on the same standard as other health care choices.

The 10 bases selected by the Department of Defense represent a good cross-section of the military population, based on both geographical and service branch distribution.

We are please to note preliminary results showing a high level of satisfaction by patients and other health care providers on the military team. Cooperation and commitment to the project have been commendable.

I would like to clarify a point which may be misread in Dr. Grosvenor's article. Military patients participating in the demonstration project do not pay for their chiropractic care out-of-pocket. At the direction of Congress, chiropractic is quite clearly on equal par with other health care options on these bases.

Formal data analysis is underway to assess variables relating to the efficacy of chiropractic. The preliminary results are certainly encouraging that the military patient may expect the same opportunities for quality health care as do those in the civilian population.

Peter Ferguson, DC
FCLB Appointee - Oversight Committee
Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project
Chair, FCLB Executive Board of Directors

Chiropractic Olympic Pins

Dear Editor:

I noted in the June 17, 1996 (Volume 14, #13) issue of Dynamic Chiropractic two articles relating to the recent Olympics. The first was "Chiropractic's First Official Olympic Pin"; the second, "The Road to Atlanta Olympics: Chiropractors Excluded from Host Medical Team."
Chiropractic has had an Olympic pin previously, specifically a limited edition which was distributed following the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. This green rectangular pin commemorated chiropractic health services as part of the host of medical services of the Olympic Winter Games, and depicted the official symbol of the Calgary Olympics (stylized snowflake), Olympic rings, lateral view of the spine and the chiropractic positioning of hands. Consequently, the statement, "This is the first time that the Olympic rings have ever appeared on a chiropractic pin," is inaccurate.

As an aside, being that chiropractors were also included as part of host country medical services, members of the team received an official certificate acknowledging their contribution to the Olympic Winter Games. The certificate bears the signatures of Frank King (chairman, XV Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee), Dr. Bruce Challis (chief medical officer), Mr. William Pratt (president, XV Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee), and Lane Casement (manager, Medical Services).

There is no doubt that the efforts of chiropractic organizations such as FICS, the ACA Sports and Physical Fitness Committee, and the College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (Canada) are all to be commended for promoting the role of our profession in the field of sports injuries and athletics. I would also like take this opportunity to thank Dynamic Chiropractic for its efforts in the regard as well.

Brian S. Seaman, DC, FCCSS(C)
Nova Scotia, Canada

Vaccines Can Save Lives

Dear Editor:

Recent comments relative to vaccination (immunization, inoculation) in Dynamic Chiropractic (June 3, July 29, Sept. 12, all 1996) must be of some concern to physician scientists and chiropractic educators. While some appear to close the door on the scientific method, Dr. Baird (July 29, 1996) asks that questions on immunizations be answered by continuing research.

My graduate studies and observation over the years present evidence that the principles of immunity can protect us in some catastrophic events.

If exposed to rabies, tetanus, or hepatitis, I would prefer immunization protective procedures. I saw my sister saved from death with an anti-diphtheria agent based on the immune process. Jenner's observation on cowpox and subsequent vaccination against smallpox has been shown effective the last 200 years.

What alternative therapy can those opposed to vaccination (immunization, inoculation) offer in these events?

Vaccinations against all microbial diseases are based on the same principles of immunity, and chiropractic students are now getting better education in basic science and research may more objectively appraise clinical and research literature when studying antigen-antibody manipulation.

C. Ray Ratliff, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Cleveland Chiropractic College,
Kansas City

"Yuck"

Dear Editor:

My eight-year-old son Joshua came home from school with a great story.

In his third grade class, the students were told to pick a card with different professions on them and write a paragraph to describe them. He picked a card and asked the teacher, "What is this?"

"A pharmacist!" she replied.

"A farm assistant?" he said.

"No, a pharmacist!" the teacher corrected.

"What is a pharmacist?" my son asked.

"Someone that gives drugs," came the reply.

"Yuck!" he said.

That says it all!

Allen Kaplan, DC
Westbury, New York

Why Not Clean out Our Closets of Skeletons?

Dear Editor:

How sad that the author of the letter in the October 7 Dynamic Chiropractic feels he/she has to remain anonymous! I find little controversy in his statements. The average GPA of students is not debatable (though my opinion is that it is unacceptably low). The virtual unlimited enrollment of our chiropractic colleges is also factual, though they will not admit this publicly. Would you admit such if it meant certain death for your financial well-being?) And clinical education needs improvement; to what degree is debatable. I would like to thank the doctor for curing me of the idiotic idea that increasing entrance requirements is a panacea. Thank you. Indeed, the faults in our clinical experience and training are the real issue.

It is my hope that this anonymous doctor will contact me; more importantly, it is my hope that responsible people who recognize the educational crisis in our profession will take a stand for our profession's future. It is amazing to me that with such a lacking of preparation we do so much service to humanity. It amazes me that despite the subpar quality of our best schools, the cream still rises and (thank goodness) represents us when the public's looking. Why not clean out our closets of skeletons, rather than wait for our eager detractors to haul them out before the world?

Daniel A. Shaye-Pickell, DC, CCRD
Williamsburg, Virginia

Editor's note: We never print purely "anonymous" letters, that is, we occasionally print an unnamed letter at the author's request, but the author's identity is not anonymous to us.

"It Is Time for You to Move beyond Talk"

Dear Editor,

Having read all of the information that we can get our hands on concerning health care issues in this country, we now have some questions for the leaders of the ACA, ICA and other chiropractic organizations:

In the face of evidence that even one x-ray leaves behind damaging radiation, and knowing that the Medicare program faces looming bankruptcy, why hasn't anyone yet worked to eliminate the yearly Medicare x-ray requirement for chiropractic patients? Just allowing these patients unrestricted access to chiropractic care would be a major step forward, even if the only reimbursable procedure continues (at least in the short run) to be the spinal adjustment. This strategy would seem to make the CBO scoring a less powerful way to block changes in chiropractic access within the Medicare program.
Has anyone else noticed that there is a political party out there which is congruent with chiropractic? It is the Natural Law Party. They are running an exciting campaign for the U.S. presidency. Call them at (800)-507-3700 or (515) 472-2040 for more information. Imagine a political party which advocates living in harmony with the laws of nature? Have you heard this anywhere else?
How many states/chiropractic organizations have organized a campaign to support the Solla, et al. lawsuit against the HMOs? Call us at (401) 295-1152, fax us at (401) 295-1153 or e-mail us at for more information about how we are doing this in Rhode Island.
Finally, chiropractic organizations are coming together to form a coherent national strategy to promote chiropractic care! We look forward to more information after the leadership conference in Chicago in November.
Have you read Dr. Wilk's new book yet? It's a real eye-opener. How many states/chiropractic organizations have begun to work with Dr. Wilk to get this message out to the American people? We are also planning a campaign to do this in R.I., and you can contact us at the above numbers for more information.

Chiropractors of America, it is time for you to move beyond talk and just do it -- now!

Robert V. Owen, DC, RPT
Barbara H. Owen, MSW, MBA
North Kingstown, Rhode Island

"You Do the Math"

Dear Editor:

When I read the editorial about how much the AMA is going to spend to show how us "non-physician health care providers" are inferior to "physicians," I just shook my head. Not because of AMA Resolution 623, but because they don't need to spend all that money. Here's why.

In my community of 150,000 there are 17 doctors of chiropractic. Another DC and myself recently tried to get each DC to contribute $100 to the cost of getting the centennial video and showing it on the local cable access and public television stations. Only six supported the idea. However, the DCs in town who have spent thousands of dollars promoting their own practices on television were not in the six who would be willing to ante up to help educate the public with an excellent film about what us "non-physician health care providers" can do much better than the physicians.

You do the math.

Marcy Halterman, DC, JD
College Station, Texas

Chiropractors Treat ("Eliminate") Dysmenorrhoea

Dear Editor:

On page 36 of your September 12, 1996 issue is the headline "Dysmenorrhoea -- To Treat or Not to Treat?" How about saying "eliminate?" As a student adjustor at Palmer in 1942, I adjusted my first woman suffering dysmenorrhoea. After two adjustments she was no longer suffering. It is now 1996 and I still have not failed to eliminate dysmenorrhoea.

It is true that ovarian cysts are present along with dysmenorrhoea at times but that is still a chiropractic case because the same subluxations that cause dysmenorrhoea are also the cause of the tumors or any other complications that may exist.

Stripped of all the verbiage in the article, subluxations in the lumbar and sacral area irritate the nerves leading from those areas into the uterine area. Elimination of those subluxations will eliminate the dysmenorrhoea.

The article also mentions a small percentage of patients who do not receive relief. Nobody is perfect and I am convinced that the adjustments administered were not perfectly administered. I say that because I have had patients who reported no relief and I have had to "back up and start over" until I found the proper adjustment.

I credit the Gonstead visual analysis of the lumbar area, which I received from Dr. Gonstead himself, with my success in dysmenorrhoea. A similar problem in men is premature ejaculation. I could tell you stories only a chiropractor would believe, about men I have rescued from that problem.

Harry Sherrill, DC
Fredericksburg, Texas

MS -- Quest for Answers

I hope to elicit responses from those of you who believe you have come upon an effective treatment for MS. Regardless of the technique or healing art, I will greatly appreciate any input that you might provide. Responses will be held in strictest confidence. Please write to: Chiropractor, 13366 Kingsbury Dr., West Palm Beach, FL 33414.