IN THE NECK

NZ Truth, Issue 1178, 28 June 1928, Page 7

IN THE NECK

» Chiropractor Upsets Doctors' Theory [(From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) The report from Christchurch that a man's broken neck had been repaired m the public hospital had a peculiar interest for a visitor to "N.Z. Truth" the other day. as it may seem, he knew '^ what it meant to have "a broken Jieck." His name is Frederick G. Miners, a ■resident of Wellington. About six years ago, he was playing cricket when a full-toss was slammed foack by a vigorous batsman, the ball •catching Miners on the nose. A sharp click! His head was jerked back' so that he could not move his neck, and, fading into unconsciousness, he became a hospital case. • ■. Then medical theories began. He lad first of all "a. broken neck," or rather was privileged to be alive through some divine act. that defied /physiological* theory. » ' He remained with his neck m the cramped position for a good many ■weeks, hut, as men with broken necks are not supposed to be mingling with the mundane, the doctors had another look at him and then definitely diagnosed his complaint as that of "a diseased spine." He was led to believe that his condition was not particularly rosy. i A special straight-jacket affair was made for Miners, this consisting of a kind of firm leather casing for his body and a metal neck-rest into which his head was trussed by means of a chin strap. With no "hope of getting out of this hideous and t awkward contrivance, Miners was eventually allowed to leave the institution, to walk calmly and quietly along the quieter streets and thus became a rather familiar figure near the hospital m Newtown. That was six. years ago. One day business men who had come to know Miners, mentioned him as a unique case 1 to a local chiropractor, J. H. Griffiths.. THE "DISBELIEVER This man was more than interested. In fact, after examining Miners, he came to what a great many would have characterized as a rash decision. He told the hospital patient that he did not have a diseased spine ; at all, but merely required certain treatment. Furthermore, his adviser undid what that cricket ball had. done, and, giving his head another click, ; restored its use for all time. This, of course, seemed almost a miracle. = "■.•<■• Miners continued with the ordinary chiropractor treatment for a while and then was told to discard his "straightJacket," a feeling, • which,- he said, was akin to coming into fresh air after, an eternity of solitary confinement. Not longr. afterwards he -was swinging a pick and has since participated In,- all sorts of he-man sport and general healthy activity. ..'■.[. * ItmiiiiitriniiltiiiiiniitiiiiiiimliniiiiitiiiiihiiiiiiiMliiinniiitiiiniiiiiMiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiniiiiui