The history of medicine is dotted with the episodic appearance of new
discoveries, scientific breakthroughs, and the development of new
schools of medicine, and each has contributed to the evolution of the
art and science of the practice of medicine. The founding of osteopathic
medicine by Andrew Taylor Still was one such event. The development of
the craniosacral concept by William G.Suther- land was another. Both of
these giants of osteopathic medicine en- countered the reluctance of
their colleagues to accept his contribu- tion. Both were able to
overcome this reluctance and saw the acceptance of his contribution
because of the fundamental anatom- ical and physiological truth
supporting the concept, and the prag- matic fact that their therapeutic
applications were successful. Both men attracted to them individuals
desirous of learning a new diag- nostic and therapeutic procedure. It is
fortunate that these individu- als have continued to promulgate the
contribution to osteopathic medicine of their mentors.