Autobiography, with a history of the discovery and development of the science of osteopathy.

  • Andrew Taylor Still
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Autobiography, with a history of the discovery and development of the science of osteopathy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    time I entered my gawk age, for a long journey. I was awkward, ignorant, and slovenly until I got into my mother’s real training-school, in which she used soap and switches freely. After which it seemed I had more spring in my heels and head than ever before. She gave me two buckets and a cup, and told me to go and milk the cows, and be in a hurry about it, so as to help her and Dan’l shear the sheep. By seven o’clock we were in the sheep-pen. Old Dan’l says, “Ketch dat sheep,” mother reiterated, “Catch that sheep,” and Aunt Becky echoed, “Catch me one.” By this time “old black Rachel” came in with her shears, and said: “I wants one too.” And right here is where the gawk was knocked out. When I caught a sheep for her, the old ram said, “It is time for music, ” and sprawled me with his head, causing me to howl, and the others to laugh. This incident taught me to look backward and forward, upward and downward, right and left, and never sleep in the enemy’s country, but always be on guard. My instructors thinking I was well enough trained to be admitted into better society, I was permitted to go with Dan’l to the timber, to be instructed in chop- ping wood, splitting rails, • burning brush, and clear- ing up the ground for the plow. .All went off well except once or twice, when old Dan’l revived my see-ability by playing ram until I could see a limb as big as your finger. He then closed with the proverb, “ 'Cleanliness is next to godliness.’ I wants all dis trash cleaned up, every moufful of it.” At noon he gave the welcome information, “Come on. we’s gwine to dinner. ” When we came near the house, we met Aunt Becky, and she told us the preacher had come
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