Jim Haynes wants to know the following is a scam....

       There's a chiropractor who has a stand in the middle of a shopping
       mall, offering free examinations.  Part of the process involves a
       multiple-jointed sensor arm and a computer that says in a computer-
       sounding voice "digitize left PSIS" "digitize right PSIS" "digitize
       C7" "please stand with spine in neutral position".  I'm wondering
       whether this doesn't really measure anything and the computer voice
       is to impress the victims, or whether it is measuring something
       that chiropractors think is useful to measure.

Earth to sci.med....If it looks like a duck...and quacks like a duck......

This is a TOTAL scam. Since the beginning of chiropraxis, the chiropractor has
tried to sell The Subluxation as The Problem and then sell themselves and
their Adjustments as The Solution. The Chiropractic Subluxation is a delusional
diagnosis and the Adjustments of Subluxations by extension constitute a
delusional medicine.

The wide spectrum of chiropractic Techniques ALL have their own methods for
detecting Spinal Demons and unique methodolgies for Excorcizing Them. The
computer approach is an attempt to 'sell with science' but this device is
nothing more than a 'high-tech' Subluxation Detector.....and in the end...
AMAZINGLY...it will show the potential 'patient' to suffer from...VS......
Vertebral Subluxation....The Silent Killer!

John Badanes, DC, CA

: Earth to sci.med....If it looks like a duck...and quacks like a duck......
:
: This is a TOTAL scam. Since the beginning of chiropraxis, the chiropractor has
: tried to sell The Subluxation as The Problem and then sell themselves and
: their Adjustments as The Solution. The Chiropractic Subluxation is a delusional
: diagnosis and the Adjustments of Subluxations by extension constitute a
: delusional medicine.
:
: The wide spectrum of chiropractic Techniques ALL have their own methods for
: detecting Spinal Demons and unique methodolgies for Excorcizing Them. The
: computer approach is an attempt to 'sell with science' but this device is
: nothing more than a 'high-tech' Subluxation Detector.....and in the end...
: AMAZINGLY...it will show the potential 'patient' to suffer from...VS......
: Vertebral Subluxation....The Silent Killer!

I am not an expert on chiropractic techniques but am interested in
finding out more about the non-validity of these techniques.  Can you
direct me to some reference material on the topic?  I am most interested
in scientific studies (preferably double-blind) about the topic.
:
: John Badanes, DC, CA

:
:
:
:
--
Paul Schmidt: Advocates for Self-Government, Davy Crockett Chapter President
706 Judith Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604, (615)283-0084, uunet!tijc02!pjs269
"Freedom seems to have unleashed the  creative energies of the people -- and
leads to ever higher levels of income and social progress."  --  U.N. report

      Paul says:

        I am not an expert on chiropractic techniques but am interested in
        finding out more about the non-validity of these techniques.  Can you
        direct me to some reference material on the topic?  I am most interested
        in scientific studies (preferably double-blind) about the topic.

You need to be more specific than "more about the non-validity of these tech-
niques"...valid for what complaints or diagnoses...or are you really seeking
a scientific double-blinded study that demonstrates that The Subluxation is not
The Cause of all Disease and The Adjustment is not The Cure?

John Badanes, DC, CA

There's a book I'd recommend to start with.  One of the editors is
Clark Glymour (philosopher of science).  It has "Alternative Medicine"
in the title, I think.  Came out about 5 years ago.  It deals with
most of the alternative medicine fields, including accupuncture.

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've spent a few evenings with Clark, in Santa Cruz and in Pittsburgh.
If the book reflects any of his personality, it will be absolutely
hilarious.  Anyway, I bothered to look it up in our card catalog.
Unfortunately, our copy is out, or I'd check it out today.  Here is
the citation:

TITLE:    Examining holistic medicine / edited by Douglas Stalker and Clark
          Glymour.
IMPRINT:   Buffalo, N.Y. : Prometheus Books, 1985.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  406 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
OTHER AUTHORS: Stalker, Douglas * Glymour, Clark
SUBJECTS:   Holistic Health
ISBN:     087975303X
OCLC NUMBER: 13904348

Mark
--
Mark A. Fulk                    University of Rochester

Stalker, Douglas and Glymour, Clark. _Examining Holistic Medicine_ (1985).

Also, take a look at Barrett, Stephen ed.  _A Consumer's Guide to
Alternative Medicine_ (1992).

If your bookstore doesn't stock these titles, you can get them via
mail order from NCAHF Books, National Council Against Health Fraud,
POB 1747, Allentown, PA 18105.  Stalker and Glymour is priced at
$20.00, and Dr. Barrett's book is priced at $18.00.   Add $2.00 for
postage plus 6% salestax if you're a resident of Pennsylvania.

--
Russell Lawrence, WP Group, New Orleans (504) 443-5000

:
: There's a book I'd recommend to start with.  One of the editors is
: Clark Glymour (philosopher of science).  It has "Alternative Medicine"
: in the title, I think.  Came out about 5 years ago.  It deals with
: most of the alternative medicine fields, including accupuncture.
:
Thanks for the info.  Also thanks to Russell Lawrence and Mark Fulk for
their input.  If I missed anyone else's post, I apologize.  (This system
has a very quick expire.)
--
Paul Schmidt: Advocates for Self-Government, Davy Crockett Chapter President
706 Judith Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604, (615)283-0084, uunet!tijc02!pjs269
"Freedom seems to have unleashed the  creative energies of the people -- and
leads to ever higher levels of income and social progress."  --  U.N. report

:       Paul says:
:
:         I am not an expert on chiropractic techniques but am interested in
:         finding out more about the non-validity of these techniques.  Can you
:         direct me to some reference material on the topic?  I am most interested
:         in scientific studies (preferably double-blind) about the topic.
:
: You need to be more specific than "more about the non-validity of these tech-
: niques"...valid for what complaints or diagnoses...or are you really seeking
: a scientific double-blinded study that demonstrates that The Subluxation is not
: The Cause of all Disease and The Adjustment is not The Cure?
:
Sorry, I don't have the original post as a reference.  I was referring
to the claims in the original post and what studies proved the claims to
be true.
: John Badanes, DC, CA

:
--
Paul Schmidt: Advocates for Self-Government, Davy Crockett Chapter President
706 Judith Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604, (615)283-0084, uunet!tijc02!pjs269
"Freedom seems to have unleashed the  creative energies of the people -- and
leads to ever higher levels of income and social progress."  --  U.N. report