News

Spring 2006

I have been criticized for emphasizing Osteopathic philosophy while excluding "useful" teachings, such as clinically relevant procedures that directly help in patient care. I have also been told that the average clinician is not interested in Osteopathic philosophy because it cannot be utilized in the treatment room. I am told, "Give me what works, don't waste my time with impractical principles that have no obvious and realistic applications."

I primarily offer Osteopathic philosophy because everyone else only presents the so-called practical techniques. The international Osteopathic profession has an overwhelming excess of exposure to the clinically relevant procedures we commonly call techniques. I give you exposure to Osteopathic philosophy because of the enormous imbalance caused by the near exclusive teaching of technique without principles.

I would suggest that our community does not need another technique guru or more exposure to empty procedures. We need a comprehensive understanding of why we do what we do. Just learning a technique without having a philosophical foundation based upon Osteopathy principles makes us technicians not Osteopaths. We can mechanically create assembly lines of educational programs that crank out technicians or we can handcraft complete Osteopaths who integrate the art as well as the science of Osteopathy.

My mission is to expose every Osteopath to the rich and vibrant set of principles presented to us by Andrew Taylor Still. I am unable to be a complete Osteopath unless I integrate philosophy with the clinically pragmatic practice of Osteopathic Manipulation. I know that my clinical results are better when I incorporate the philosophy of Osteopathy with every patient. Interweaving Osteopathic philosophy with my awareness and skilled clinical attention is what Harry Chiles, DO meant when he said, "If one can think Osteopathy, one will practice Osteopathy."

We cannot think Osteopathy unless we have a foundation in Osteopathic philosophy. To my detractors, who claim that knowing principles or "thinking Osteopathy" is not necessary, I can only say that you are limiting your therapeutic options by ignoring this essential component of the work of our hands.

If you choose to practice only techniques, then you are forever doomed to be only a technician. However, if you choose to integrate all of Osteopathy then you will be blessed with insight that exceeds all known boundaries.

Steve Paulus, DO

Winter 2006

The A. T. Still Library is now "complete." All four of Dr. Still books are in an accurate, searchable PDF format. Each eBook has the exact pagination of the most common print version. That means that you can perform a key word search, find the exact quote, record the precise page, and thus accurately reference the wisdom of Andrew Taylor Still from the convenience of your home computer. Now, everyone can become an instant A. T. Still scholar.

I put the word "complete" in quotes because the four books written by Dr. Still do no comprise all of his written works. He wrote extensively in the early Journal of Osteopathy and he has many unpublished writings located in the Still National Osteopathic Museum. At some point in the future I plan to scan all of the old Journal of Osteopathy articles to have a more complete library of Osteopathic literature.

I have also added the most recent version of the Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). The new version was created in 2004. It is my goal to someday have all of the old versions on the website so that students of Osteopathic history may follow the progress of terminology changes over the past 50 years.

Inter Linea is a work in progress; or perhaps I should say it is a work in process. The process of expanding Inter Linea will never end. I plan to constantly update and expand Inter Linea in a parallel way that Osteopathy is constantly expanding and being updated.

I want to thank the many people, from around the world, who have expressed interest in this unique Osteopathic website. Please continue to email to me your comments, suggestions, and corrections regarding Inter Linea. And most importantly, continue to express your appreciation of Osteopathy by studying the philosophy of this great healing art.

Steve Paulus, DO

Fall 2005

Inter Linea continues to be an independent voice endorsing Osteopathic philosophy. Remember, Osteopathy is based upon a philosophy rather than a collection of techniques. I feel that this mantra must be repeated regularly. We must never forget what Dr. Still discovered. And, we must always remember what his dedicated students passed on to us via the lineage of Osteopathic teachers.

We are the next lineage of teachers transmitting the philosophy of Osteopathy to the upcoming generations of Osteopaths. We are not just technicians. We are not just doctors. We are not therapists.

We are Osteopaths trained under the guidance of history. Osteopathic history accentuates our philosophy and principles. To study Dr. Still’s original writings is not to be burdened with times gone by or antiquated ideas. By immersing yourself in the direct teachings of Dr. Still we return to our source, we discover our essence as Osteopaths.

I have updated two more of Dr. Still’s books to correlate with the most common print versions. The eBook versions of Philosophy of Osteopathy and Philosophy and Mechanical Principles of Osteopathy have been repaginated to correlate exactly, page-for-page, with the print versions. Now when you search for a quote, you can reference the exact page for academic accuracy. Now everyone can become an Osteopathic scholar.

The new installment of Concerning Osteopathy will delight some and may irritate others. It is my goal to present Osteopathy in the context of holism. We cannot just identify with the material expression of Osteopathy. We must also honor the non-material. You may call the non-material whatever you prefer. As an Osteopathic historian, I will endeavor to present Dr. Still’s version for greater appreciation.

I hope that Inter Linea helps you to realize the vital importance of the quest for our essence. May your journey be as important as what you eventually discover.

Steve Paulus, DO

Summer 2005

Inter Linea has undergone some significant changes over the past few months. I have commissioned a new banner for the website along with a new color scheme. It is my hope that by making www.interlinea.org more artistic it will draw a greater number of readers. Please spread the word to your friends and colleagues that Inter Linea is an international resource for applied Osteopathic philosophy!

I must also apologize for the technical difficulties we have experienced. Our web host crashed miserably and the site was offline for almost 2 months. I have changed to a new, more reputable, web host. I trust that future technical difficulties will be minimal.

Thank you for your patience regarding Inter Linea, but most of all thank you for loving Osteopathy.

Steve Paulus, DO

Spring 2005

Inter Linea will be shifting to a quarterly publication format from the previous monthly schedule. Spring 2005 will mark the beginning of the quarterly format. By having a longer interval of publication, I hope to devote more time to updating the website in other areas.

The first major update of the Still Project is complete and ready for your appreciation. I have created version 2.0 of Osteopathy, Research and Practice. Version 2.0 matches the exact pagination of the Eastland Press publication of Osteopathy, Research and Practice (published in 1992). The Eastland Press edition is the most readily available print version and is the primary reference source, that is still in print, for Osteopathy, Research and Practice. I scanned an original 1910 edition for the eBook version. Eastland Press did make grammatical and spelling corrections of the original edition published by Dr. Still. I have left these "errors" in the eBook version to maintain the accuracy of the original work.

By having the pagination of version 2.0 matching the 1992 Eastland Press edition, it will allow readers to accurately quote and subsequently reference this work without going to the print version for exact page references. Now every Osteopath can become an A. T. Still scholar by searching the eBook version 2.0 of Osteopathy, Research and Practice.

I plan to repaginate each of the three remaining books by A. T. Still so that every reader of Inter Linea can perform detailed searches and make accurate references. Each repagination effort, along with making corrections from the scanning process, takes at least 12 hours of computer work.

I offer my efforts to the international Osteopathic community because I have a great fondness for A. T. Still and I love Osteopathy. Inter Linea is my gift to every Osteopath and a reflection of my dedication to increase everyone’s understanding of essential Osteopathic philosophy.

I hope you continue to appreciate the incredible work of an extraordinary man -- A. T. Still.

Steve Paulus, DO

March 2005

Welcome back to Inter Linea. As the number and variety of readers increases, I have been receiving an increased number of communications by email. I thank you for you comments, suggestions, and acknowledgement. I love to receive feedback on any aspect of Inter Linea and hope every reader will spread the word about the great significance and consequence of studying Osteopathic philosophy.

I will be adding a new feature to Inter Linea some time this month. I recently received permission to include the Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology in this website. I hope to make Inter Linea an international resource center for Osteopathic philosophy and principles. I hope to add my own Inter Linea Osteopathic Dictionary some time this year to the lexiconographic section of this website.

Thank you for your support and thank you for loving Osteopathy!

Steve Paulus, DO

February 2005

This month’s installment of Concerning Osteopathy is titled, “Normal: The All-Absorbing First Question.” I explore the various Osteopathic interpretations of normal. If we look “in between the lines” of Dr. Still’s writings we find much more than is apparent on the surface in the applied philosophic use of “normal.” Dr. Still was both obvious and enigmatic in his teaching of Osteopathy. The purpose of this website is to explore both aspects the Osteopathic philosophy that he organized into a teachable system of healing.

I have added a new feature to Inter Linea. “The Work of Our Hands” was a regular feature in the previous written incarnation of this website: Inter Linea, The Journal of Osteopathic Philosophy. “The Work of Our Hands” includes stories that authenticate the humanistic side of Osteopathic clinical practice. These anecdotes are not case histories; rather they are personal accounts and events that shaped my life as a clinician and as human being. Included are seven entries previously published in: Inter Linea, The Journal of Osteopathic Philosophy.

As Inter Linea continues to grow, I want to thank the many people who have sent letters and emails in support of this independent Osteopathic endeavor. Please continue to send your comments, feedback, and support.

Steve Paulus, DO

January 2005

Inter Linea is a living Osteopathic project. It is living because it continues to grow and change. I have temporarily removed the Links section. It needed serious work and updating. I plan to do a massive international emailing to gain updated data regarding the many international Osteopathic institutions. I should be able to attend to this task sometime in the early spring.

I have also removed the Early Osteopathic Literature section. I originally intended to scan my favorite historical Osteopathic textbooks. The amount of time needed to scan, perform the Optical Character Recognition (OCR), convert it to a Word document, and then correct (page-by-page) the many OCR errors was daunting. I decided instead to devote more time to writing the Concerning Osteopathy monthly essays.

This months Concerning Osteopathy is devoted to the study of Nature. I examine what Dr. Still meant when he said, “Thus we have unbounded faith that Nature’s chemistry is the doctor and the only on whom we can depend for relief. Nature abounds with remedies necessary for her use in all conditions.” Every Osteopath knows that the real work of healing comes from beyond the egocentric orientation of the doctor. We inherently know that healing emerges from beyond the horizon.

Steve Paulus, DO

December 2004

This issue of Concerning Osteopathy explores the sentinel Osteopathic aphorism: “Find it, fix it, and leave it alone.” Dr. Still made this quote one of the foundations of Osteopathy. This statement includes at least six essential Osteopathic principles. I invite you to explore “Find it, fix it, and leave it alone” in your daily practice as Osteopaths.

I am contemplating temporarily removing the Links or Connections section of the website. I have received many email corrections and updates of the database. It is difficult to fully organize the non-English language Osteopathic organizations. I need regular help from my European colleagues. I plan to contact each of the Osteopathic schools or organizations to get accurate and updated information. Once I have compiled the complete list of international Osteopathic organizations, I would re-post the data base in it’s entirety.

This website is a labor of love and is intended to serve the international Osteopathic community. I will endeavor to improve it and expand it in the same way that Osteopathy continues to grow and evolve.

Steve Paulus, DO

November 2004

Welcome back to this periodical component of Inter Linea. This website is not just a database or resource center for Osteopathic historical research. It is not just a collection of modern articles devoted to the philosophy of Osteopathy. Inter Linea is also a monthly online journal, of sorts.

Each month I offer, to the international Osteopathic community, an essay aligned with the philosophy, principles, or history of Osteopathy. This months essay explores the relationship, and differences, between being and doing. Next month I will look at Dr. Still’s famous quote, “Find it, fix it, and leave it alone.” There are certain quotes of Dr. Still’s that seem to define Osteopathy. I consider this quote to be sentinel to the philosophic practice of Osteopathy.

I hope that the international Osteopathic community is enjoying the philosophic effort called Inter Linea. Please continue to send your emails offering support, feedback, and corrections of scanned textbooks.

Thank you,

Steve Paulus, DO

October 2004

In this issue of Concerning Osteopathy, I'm asking that you contemplate another way of being with your patients as an Osteopath. Osteopathy is much more than biomechanical expressions. The practice of wholism in Osteopathic philosophy applies not only to the overall model of applied principles, but also to the intricacies of hands-on patient care.

A complete, or wholistic, Osteopath looks deeper than surface manifestations of dysfunction. To be inclusive in the practice of Osteopathy means to apply biomechanical principles and to absolutely respect that non-material forces, as revealed in the natural world of the human body, are the motivators of healing. To engage both biomechanical and non-material forces, at the same time during treatment, is the hallmark of a complete Osteopath.

Consider the possibility that you are much more than just a mechanic functioning in a biologic field.

Steve Paulus, DO

September 2004

The next three installments of “Concerning Osteopathy” are linked. I wrote these three essays one after another. They each have a philosophic thread that ties them together. The September installment discusses the considerable differences between attention and intention. The October installment is entitled, “Consider This.” It explores the etymology of the word consider. To consider, in a spiritual sense, is integral to the expression of Osteopathic philosophy. The November installment is entitled, “Do Something,” and explores the dilemma involved with utilizing Osteopathic Treatment and at the same time respecting the inherent therapeutic process.

I hope you will enjoy these essays that concern Osteopathy and I trust that you are utilizing the vast resources found on this website.

Steve Paulus, DO

August 2004

My primary goal in creating this website is to allow the original teachings of A. T. Still to become easily available to everyone. I also want to offer the international Osteopathic profession a resource center for exploring the philosophy of Osteopathy.

My intention is to make this website user friendly and simple. This is a content driven website. I believe that you will find a wealth of information in this website and the hidden treasure of Osteopathy will be revealed to everyone who has real interest in exploring.

Steve Paulus, DO

July 2004

Welcome to the second installment of Inter Linea as an online Osteopathic publication. All four of A. T. Still’s books have been scanned and placed into an easy-to-search PDF format. The PDF format makes it easy to read Dr. Still’s books online, at your convenience. Now, everyone can become an Osteopathic scholar by easily searching for key quotes or specific topics.

The international Links section is a work in progress. I need your help to discover errors, identify omissions, and update new listings. Please email to me any additions or corrections.

Each month, a new “Concerning Osteopathy” will be presented, and I hope it expands your appreciation of the philosophy that guides us. This month, I have included the transcript of the Invocation offered at the June 2004 Cranial Academy conference.

I hope you find this website to be a helpful resource center for explorations into Osteopathic philosophy.

Steve Paulus, DO

June 2004

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Inter Linea, a website devoted to exploring the philosophy of Osteopathy. Inter Linea is a monthly online "zine" that is available as a resource for the international Osteopathic community. Join us and spread the word, the true voice of Osteopathy originates from our rich and fertile philosophy.

News is a regular feature of Inter Linea. Each month, brief news items related to the international Osteopathic community will be posted, as well as updated information relating to Inter Linea If you have Osteopathic news that you consider remarkable, please e-mail Steve at steve@interlinea.org.

Steve Paulus, DO