| Abstract/Notes |
Bone-setting has been practiced in England for hundreds of years. Bonesetters were non-qualified practitioners of a form of manual treatment that included massage, mobilization and manipulation. One of these bonesetters was John Atkinson, who was also a veterinary surgeon. One of the most famous British bonesetters, Sir Herbert Barker, who practiced from 1889 to 1925, was a cousin of Atkinson and was originally taught bonesetting by him. This article discusses the life of Atkinson, his early years and his training of Barker, as well as his trip in 1897-98 to the United States where he received much acclaim through the popular press. As bonesetters often kept their methods of treatment a secret, this article also describes and documents what was printed on Atkinson's techniques, mainly from the popular press in the United States. The Atkinson connection with chiropractic is also discussed. Was there any connection with Dr. Jim Atkinson, Palmer's mysterious source of the principles of chiropractic, and Dr. John Atkinson, the bonesetter?
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