R.W. Stephenson, DC, PhC
Ralph W. Stephenson graduated from PSC in 1921 and started teaching in the philosophy department almost immediately. By 1925, he was head of the Technique Department and Clinic at PSC. He wrote several articles in The Chiropractor in the early 1920s. He also drew the illustrations for Craven’s Orthopedy textbook as well as The Chiropractic Chart.
The Chiropractic Chart was offered for sale in 1926 so that chiropractors might integrate anatomy, neurology, instrumentation, and philosophy in their daily practice. The poster was recently meticulously redrawn and printed by The Institute Chiropractic.
Stephenson published two books in 1927, The Chiropractic Textbook and The Art of Chiropractic. Both were endorsed by B.J. Palmer. Of the Art of Chiropractic, B.J. wrote,
“I regard this work as the finest and best work that has ever appeared on vertebral adjusting, giving us essentials alone, every fact strictly proven, minus goat-feathers, confining itself to demonstrated mechanistic principles which any scientist can read, try and find to be true. When our ranks can get a few more men like Dr. Stephenson who will devote themselves as laboriously as he has done, and will then place his genius and ability into print as accurately as he has done, Chiropractic will come into its own as another one of the exact arts which will stand the exacting scrutiny of time. If I could desire one wish, it would be that every chiropractor secure a copy of this work, study it intimately, sincerely and conscientiously, apply its teachings and, if he would, Chiropractic results would become more manifest and take another step forward increasing its percentage of successes.”
The Chiropractic Textbook was required reading for decades at the PSC. It includes the first exposition of the 33 Principles of chiropractic. These principles are still used today by many chiropractors as a source of philosophical inspiration and professional identity. The book goes into great detail on all things chiropractic.
Highlights of the text includes Stephenson’s Vertemere Cycle, which was a precursor to proprioceptive models of vertebral subluxation, his explanations of momentum of disease processes and retracing. He makes significant contributions in this regard towards furthering the chiropractic paradigm.
Philosophical Quotes from Stephenson prior to 1927
Signs of Life
The scientist judges a thing is alive, by what he calls the signs of life. There are certain functional movements that he looks for as evidence that a thing is alive and he judges the degree of life by the number of the signs present. Chiropractic recognizes the signs of life also, but to Chiropractic they are evidence of Intelligence. A pebble is rolling and beside it a bug is crawling. Both are moving. you say the bug is alive. The bug gets most of your attention and your respect. Why? Because Intelligence recognizes intelligence. A gourd and a hornets’ nest hang side by side. Which one gets most of your attention and respect?
Innate Intelligence
Thus the intelligence of man recognizes in the living thing an intelligence that is localized or branching into and looking after the welfare of the thing in which it resides. This is called Innate Intelligence. Being an intelligence it is a power. Being a power it performs its function – that of creating force. This force assembles molecules and atoms into what we call organized matter. As long as this thing is alive, these forces keep it organized by using or dodging or overcoming its environmental conditions. This is called adaptation. If it fails to make adaptation to the other forces of nature it cannot keep up its proper organization and disintegration into the elements of which it is made. Therefore Innate Intelligence creates forces for the good and welfare of the body. (1924)
Mental Impulse
Life other forces of nature, these forces created by Innate, which we call Mental Impulses, are transmitted from intelligence to matter. Like other forces it prefers a conductor. The conductor that mental force prefers is a material which these forces themselves have assembled – nervous tissue. (1924)
Neurocalometer
Like other forces of nature, mental forces can suffer interference with transmission, and like other forces of nature, when it suffers interference, it gives us immediate evidence, which we can easily read with Neurocalometer. Formerly we used to determine this by the lack of action in matter, by its absence when it failed to get there. But now we can read that interference as we can see it in those electric lamps. (1924)
Interference
The sole reason for the creation o forces by Innate Intelligence is to make its assembled molecules, which we call tissue cells, change their motion and condition, according to the needs brought about by environmental conditions; to use or sidestep other forces of nature round about. Failing in this the tissue cells are threatened with destruction as an organization. Therefore interference with transmission interferes with adaptation, prevents coordinate movement of the bodily cells – thus produces disease. For when tissue cells fail to dodge adversity, they cannot be at ease.”
Stephenson’s 33 Principles
No. 1. The Major Premise
A Universal Intelligence is in all matter and continually gives to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence.
No. 2. The Chiropractic Meaning of Life
The expression of this intelligence through matter is the Chiropractic meaning of life.
No. 3. The Union of Intelligence and Matter
Life is necessarily the union of intelligence and matter.
No. 4. The Triune of Life
Life is a triunity having three necessary united factors, namely, Intelligence, Force and Matter.
No. 5. The Perfection of the Triune
In order to have 100% Life, there must be 100% Intelligence, 100% Force, 100% Matter.
No. 6. The Principle of Time
There is no process that does not require time.
No. 7. The Amount of Intelligence in Matter
The amount of intelligence for any given amount of matter is 100%, and is always proportional to its requirements.
No. 8. The Function of Intelligence.
The function of intelligence is to create force.
No. 9. The Amount of Force Created by Intelligence.
The amount of force created by intelligence is always 100%.
No. 10. The Function of Force.
The function of force is to unite intelligence and matter.
No. 11. The Character of Universal Forces.
The forces of Universal Intelligence are manifested by physical laws; are unswerving and unadapted, and have no solicitude for the structures in which they work.
No. 12. Interference with Transmission of Universal Forces.
There can be interference with transmission of universal forces.No. 13. The Function of Matter.
The function of matter is to express force.
No. 14. Universal Life.
Force is manifested by motion in matter; all matter has motion, therefore there is universal life in all matter.
No. 15. No Motion without the Effort of Force.
Matter can have no motion without the application of force by intelligence.
No. 16. Intelligence in both Organic and Inorganic Matter.
Universal Intelligence gives force to both organic and inorganic matter.
No. 17. Cause and Effect.
Every effect has a cause and every cause has effects.
No. 18. Evidence of Life.
The signs of life are evidence of the intelligence of life.
No. 19. Organic Matter.
The material of the body of a “living thing” is organized matter.
No. 20. Innate Intelligence.
A “living thing” has an inborn intelligence within its body, called Innate Intelligence.
No. 21. The Mission of Innate Intelligence.
The mission of Innate Intelligence is to maintain the material of the body of a “living thing” in active organization.
No. 22. The Amount of Innate Intelligence.
There is 100% of Innate Intelligence in every “living thing,” the requisite amount, proportional to its organization.
No. 23. The Function of Innate Intelligence.
The function of Innate Intelligence is to adapt universal forces and matter for use in the body, so that all parts of the body will have co-ordinated action for mutual benefit.
No. 24. The Limits of Adaptation.
Innate Intelligence adapts forces and matter for the body as long as it can do so without breaking a universal law, or Innate Intelligence is limited by the limitations of matter.
No. 25. The Character of Innate Forces.
The forces of Innate Intelligence never injure or destroy the structures in which they work.
No. 26. Comparison of Universal and Innate Forces.
In order to carry on the universal cycle of life, Universal forces are destructive, and Innate forces constructive, as regards structural.
No. 27. The Normality of Innate Intelligence.
Innate Intelligence is always normal and its function is always normal.
No. 28. The Conductors of Innate Forces.
The forces of Innate Intelligence operate through or over the nervous system in animal bodies.
No. 29. Interference with Transmission of Innate Forces.
There can be interference with the transmission of Innate forces.
No. 30. The Causes of Dis-ease.
Interference with the transmission of Innate forces causes incoordination of dis-ease.
No. 31. Subluxations.
Interference with transmission in the body is always directly or indirectly due to subluxations in the spinal column.
No. 32. The Principle of Coordination.
Coordination is the principle of harmonious action of all the parts of an organism, in fulfilling their offices and purposes.
No. 33. The Law of Demand and Supply.
The Law of Demand and Supply is existent in the body in its ideal state; wherein the “clearing house,” is the brain, Innate the virtuous “banker,” brain cells “clerks,” and nerve cells “messengers.”
