William Rae (1841–1907) was a bonesetter in Blantyre near Glasgow who quietly practised and treated the local people of the region in relative obscurity. In 1904, the popular press became aware of his work, and after they printed stories of his skills and cures Rae was flocked by patients from the surrounding regions. The stories were then copied by newspapers in England, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, and Rae became internationally known. This article gives a historical look at Rae, his patients and his methods of treatment, as well as the medical views on bonesetting and this individual.
HoodWP.On Bone Setting (So-called) and its Relation to the Treatment of Joints Crippled by Injury, Rheumatism, etc.London: Macmillan and Co., 1871
2.
LeysenS.A man of his people. A concise ethnology of a Welsh bonesetter. In: OthsKS, HinojozaSZ, eds. Healing by Hand. Manual Medicine and Bonesetting in Global Perspective.Lanham, MD: Altamira Press, 2004: 237–64.
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Bloodless Surgery in Scotland.The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times, London, UK, 2 July 1904
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Miner Healer of Scotland.Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, USA, 22 July 1904
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Bonesetter in Scotch Highlands Rivals Lorenz in Bloodless Work.The Constitution, Atlanta, GA, USA, 10 July 1904
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Scottish bone-setter is a rival of Dr Lorenz.Washington Post, Washington, DC, USA, 10 July 1904
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Miracles in Scotland.The Advertiser, Adelaide, Australia, 10 July 1904
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A Wonder Worker.Wanganui Herald, Wanganui, New Zealand, 3 August 1904
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A Wonder Worker.The Poverty Bay Herald, Gisborne, New Zealand. August 1904
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Some Wonderful Cures by a Scottish Amateur Surgeon. Otago Witness, Dunedin, New Zealand, 10 August 1904
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Wonderful Feats of Bloodless Surgeons.The Grey River Argus, Greymouth, New Zealand, 11 September 1904
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Miracle Worker.Extraordinary Scenes in a Scottish Village.Star, Putanga, New Zealand, 25 August 1904
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A born doctor. Wonderful cures in Scotland.Ohinemuri Gazette, Paeroa, New Zealand) 22 August 1904
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The boom of the bonesetter.BMJ1904; 1: 1505
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Cases which bonesetters cure.BMJ1904; 2: 32
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JonesHW.The bonesetter and his ilk.St Louis Med Rev1904; 50: 103
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The boom of the bonesetter.BMJ1906; 2: 447
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Our London letter. A rival to Lorenz.Medical News1904; 85: 229
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MarshH.British Medical Association Proceedings. On bone-setting.BMJ1882; 2: 663–6.
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RomerF.Modern Bonesetting for the Medical Profession.London: William Heinemann, 1913
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HoodWP.The Treatment of Injuries by Friction and Movement.London: Macmillan and Co., 1902
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CyriaxJ, SchiotzEH.Manipulation Past and Present.London: William Heinemann Medical Books Ltd., 1975
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PagetJ.Cases that bonesetters cure.BMJ1867; 1: 1–4.
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JonesR.The problem of the stiff joint.BMJ1931; 2: 1022
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The Blantyre £10,000. Searching for a lame millionaire.Camperdown Chronicle, Camperdown, Australia, 30 August 1904
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Bloodless surgeons’ funeral.Daily Mail, London, UK, 1 August 1907
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A master of bonesetting. Rae's records rivalled.Daily Mail, London, UK, 25 March 1908
