with an annual observance commemorating September 18th,
1895 as Chiropractic Founder’s Day.
On this day, 114 years ago, Dr. Daniel David Palmer administered the
first specific chiropractic adjustment on Harvey Lillard in
Davenport Iowa. Dr. D.D. Palmer delivered this historic first chiropractic
adjustment with the specific intent of realigning a malpositioned
vertebra on the patient, restoring its normal position, and Harvey
Lillard, who had lost most of his hearing 17 years earlier, noted
his hearing rapidly returned under Dr. Palmer’s care. From that point
D.D. Palmer shifted his clinical practice to his new methods of replacing
spinal bones that were out of position, and experienced positive
clinical results in patients with a wide variety of health concerns. His
practice grew and the profession of chiropractic was launched.
The theory and clinical basis of chiropractic was succinctly described as “Founded on Tone” in 1910 in a book authored by Dr. Palmer, and over subsequent years the science, art and philosophy of this unique and special approach to health care was further described and detailed. A landmark text published in 1927 by Dr. R.W. Stephenson outlined key aspects of the chiropractic approach to health and healing in a listing of 33 Principles.