By: William David Harper, M.S., D.C. (1909–1990), President of Texas Chiropractic College (1966–1976)
Every element of this emblem has a meaning symbolizing the fundamental tenets of chiropractic as proposed by Dr. D. D. Palmer. The delta is the Greek symbol for man. It represents the first principle of chiropractic—tone. This triad represents the environment of which man is a product and from which he cannot be separated. He is continuously being irritated by mechanical (key), chemical (test tube and flask) and psychic (sun) factors. These become the three factors to which he may succumb in disease. Dr. D. D. Palmer believed that mechanical, chemical and psychic or environmental irritation of the nervous system is a life process leading to adaptation or to a failure of adaptation—health or disease. The book symbolizes all knowledge concerning man and the environment in which he lives. The six lines on the left comprise the basic sciences: anatomy, public health and hygiene, physiology, bacteriology, chemistry and pathology. The six lines on the right comprise the clinical sciences: principles, technique, diagnosis, clinical laboratories, radiology and ethics and jurisprudence. The flame signifies man’s burning desire to search for the truth of natural phenomena and the truth about himself. This search for the truth is the purpose of all scientific investigation; and the purpose of science is to simplify understanding of phenomena that appear to be unrelated and entirely independent. This truth is simple: health is the entity rather than disease, as we come to understand signs and symptoms and form a diagnosis. The year 1908 represents the date of the College’s inception.