William Harvey Lillard facts for kids
William Harvey Lillard (born 1856 – died September 7, 1925) was the first person to receive a chiropractic adjustment. This means he was the first patient treated using a method that focuses on the spine to help the body heal.
Contents
About Harvey Lillard
Harvey Lillard was an African-American man who worked as a janitor (a person who cleans and maintains buildings). He worked in the Ryan Building in Davenport, Iowa. In this same building, D.D. Palmer had his office. Palmer was the person who developed the chiropractic technique.
Lillard's Hearing Loss
In September 1895, Harvey Lillard told Dr. Palmer about a problem he had. Lillard had lost most of his hearing and was almost completely deaf. He explained that he could not hear loud noises like a wagon on the street or even the quiet ticking of a watch.
Lillard also shared how his hearing loss started. Seventeen years earlier, he had been working in a bent-over position. While stooping, he "heard something 'pop' in his spine." Right after this, he immediately lost most of his hearing.
The First Chiropractic Adjustment
Dr. Palmer offered to examine Lillard's spine. He found a small bump or misalignment between Lillard's shoulders. Palmer believed that Lillard's hearing loss was connected to this spinal issue. He thought the misaligned spine might be affecting the nerves that control the inner ear.
Palmer decided to try to move the spinal bones back into their correct place. He gently pushed on the vertebrae (the bones of the spine). After just a few days, Lillard reported that his hearing was much better and almost fully restored!
Lillard later shared his experience, saying:
I was deaf for 17 years and thought I would always be. I had tried many treatments without success. Dr. Palmer told me my deafness came from a spine injury, which was new to me, but true. He treated my spine, and after two treatments, I could hear well. My hearing is still good. HARVEY LILLARD, 320 W. Eleventh St., Davenport, Iowa.
Dates of Treatment
The exact date of Lillard's first chiropractic treatment is not fully confirmed. Some records suggest it was September 6, 1895. Other sources mention September 15 or 18 of that year. There are also some discussions about whether the month and year were changed later by B. J. Palmer, D.D. Palmer's son. Some accounts even suggest different years, like 1894 or 1896, or different months, like January or April. However, September 1895 is the most commonly accepted date for this important event in chiropractic history.
Harvey Lillard passed away on September 7, 1925. He was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.
