Medicine: Ontario Healer

Because Author Rex Ellingwood Beach got fallen arches on an Ontario golf course, some five million readers of the Hearst Press last week learned about a Miraculous Healer. A doctor friend took Author Beach to the village of Williamsburg, some 40 mi. from Ottawa, to see Dr. Mahlon William Locke. While getting his arches treated Author Beach was amazed to learn what thousands of persons from all parts of Canada and the U. S. knew about Dr. Locke; that he treats from 800 to 1,000 a day for rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica, neuritis; that he charges $1 to those who can afford it; that his treatments, consisting solely of manipulation of the feet, last about 20 sec. each. Impressed, Author Beach wrote an article on “The Pain Killer” which appeared in the August Hearst’s International-Cosmopolitan (circulation 1,700,000) with photographs of Dr. Locke, his clinic, his strong hands. Seventeen afternoon Hearst papers (circulation 3,200,000) spread the story.

That the Hearst Press had not known of Healer Locke was a surprise to medical men who have watched his activities for several years. In Ottawa, busses carry signs reading “Williamsburg & Dr. Locke.” Hotels in & near Williamsburg are always packed, but charge only $1 per day for a room because Dr. Locke threatened to build his own hotel if they raised their rates. In a small side yard outside his office he places a swivel chair. Patients stand in line waiting their turn to sit in front of him. He twists their feet, cracks the joints, collects $1, calls “Next!” Cripples hobbling about Williamsburg testify that they were bed-ridden until Healer Locke treated their feet. A Syrian fruit dealer with fallen arches told a newshawk: “For 14 years I can’t get up in the morn ing and dress myself. Nothing but agony and yelling ‘Yih! Yih! Yih!’ Now, by gees, I can stand and walk!” Said a farmer: “Four weeks ago I had such night sweats my wife had to wring out my pajamas three or four times every night. For the last three weeks I have worn the same pair.”

Healer Locke, an M. D. and licensed physician, treats goitre, delivers babies as well as manipulating feet. But a chief activity is treating arthritis and rheumatism. In Edinburgh he learned that walking too soon after illness frequently caused fallen arches and other foot troubles. He claims that foot ills pave the way for arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica. He believes that by restoring normal foot posture, relieving pressure upon the posterior tibial nerve, he can relieve the diseases. Some physicians, realizing that there is much about these diseases that medicine does not know, believe Dr. Locke may be right. Others, pointing out that arthritis is often nine-tenths neurosis, say that Locke patients are cured simply because they believe they are cured.