Osteopathy

At first osteopaths interpreted germ theory from “a Still-like perspective by emphasizing individual immunity over bacterial virulence: germs could obtain an infection-producing foothold only in tissues that had already been weakened by an osteopathic lesion. And even then, it was maintained, osteopathic manipulation of the lesion would overcome the infection by stimulating the production of more antibodies” (Whorton, 159-160).