Who is considered the founder of chiropractic?

• A. Dossa Evans
• B. Minora Paxson
• C. D.D. Palmer
• D. Solon Langworthy

Answer: (C)

D.D. Palmer is recognized as the founder of chiropractic because he established the foundational principles and practices of the profession in 1895. Palmer's pioneering work began when he performed the first chiropractic adjustment on a patient named Harvey Lillard, which he attributed to restoring Lillard's hearing. This pivotal event laid the groundwork for the systematized approach to health and wellness through spinal adjustments that characterizes chiropractic medicine today.

Palmer also founded the first chiropractic school, the Palmer School of Chiropractic, in 1897, where he began teaching his methods and philosophies to others, further promoting the discipline. His writings and teachings emphasized the connection between the spine and overall health, shaping the core principles of chiropractic care that are still practiced widely. In contrast, while the other individuals listed contributed to the development of chiropractic or were involved in its early promotion, D.D. Palmer's role as the founder is distinctly recognized as the originator of the practice and its theoretical underpinnings.