Foot-twister

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7063, 24 January 1933, Page 9

Foot-twister

PORTUNE BY "CURES,”

PATIENTS AT 4/- EACH.

Prompted by almost fabulous talcs of wholesale cures effected by Dr. Malilon W. Locke, the "foot-twister,” of Williamsburg-, Ontario, the London “Daily Express” sent a scientific expert to investigate the work of the man ironically nominated by tho American Medical Association as the "miracle man of 1932.” Here is his amazing story. In a Canadian farmyard I have just witnessed a most bizarre medicoreligious spectacle. The "miracle man,” tho central figure of this amazing scene, is Dr. Locke, onco an obscure country practitioner, now treating more patients than any other doctor in the world—more, even, than many of tho world’s largest hospitals. He averages 660 patients a day, but sometimes ho treats as many as 1400. Ho charges 4/ a treatment, which consists of twisting the arch of tho foot, and, according to the American Medical Association’s investigations, this brings him in more than £30,000 a year. Patients from all parts of Canada and the United States wait for treatment in his farmyard clinic. The majority of them are middle or lower classes, but a considerable number are from the higher walks of lifo. All were treated equally. Like a Shrine. Dr. Locke’s chief fame comes from his treatment of arthritis, the stubborn ailment which still defies scientific research. Scenes similar to those at tho famous shrine of St. Anne de Boaupre, in tho neighbouring province, Quebec, may now bo seen in this little town. Patients leave crutches behind, abandon wheel chairs, and throw' away supports without which they previously could not have walked. Motor cars are parked in a line a mile long leading to tho "miracle man’s” house. All day there is a crowd in the yard of his home. In the middle of the circle the doctor sits on a revolving office chair, treating each seated patient successively. All receive the same treatment—a bending of the arch of the foot. He does not know who his patients are; he keeps no records, holds no consultations. He seldom speaks to his patients—does not even look at their faoes to see tho owners of tho feet he is twisting in his strong, pudgy hands. Treatments- are given at the rate of three a minute, while Dr. Locke stuffs dollar bills into pocket. He loaves his chair only to go to the kitchen of tho farmhouse to throw tho notes on tho table, and then returns to work. In the living room of his simple homo Dr. Locke explained his simple treatment to me

Pressure on the Nerve. "Tho main nerve of each leg runs through the arch of the foot. There are four bones in this arch. If the arch falls the bones are thrown out of alignment, resulting in a pressure on tho nerve. "When the nerve is mashed between the joints of the arch, pain results, but not necessarily at that point. Parts in many parts of the body, called ‘referred paiin,’ break out, setting up disturbances all over the body. One consequence is the disease known as arthritis, while often muscular atrophy and certain forms of paralysis result. "I simply twist the arch of the foot back into its proper alignment.” The body, continued Dr. Locke, when relieved of pain, fights germs for itself, thus aiding the cure of many diseases caused by germs. Williamsburg, a town with no railway, has sprang up almost overnight around Dr. Locke’s practice. Scores of lunch stalls and restaurants have ‘been established for the "pilgrims,” and a £22,000 hotel has sprung up.