$20.00 CAD
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Two RPPC photo postcards of Dr. Locke treating patients with arthritis using reflexology (foot manipulation). Because of the size of the crowds, he treated outdoors of his practice in Williamsburg Ontario.
In those years, he was one of the most famed medics in North America.
#1 Large crowd surrounding Dr. Locke performing treatment.
Can guess where he is seated by looking where the huge crowd is looking!
Written on negative “Waiting for Treatment at Dr. Lockes.”
Back has some toning and stains.
Unused.
#2 Dr. Locke manipulating a foot
Dr. Locke appears to be manipulating foot of lady seated in chair in front of him. He is seated in his swivel chair.
Written on negative “Dr. Locke in the “Circle” at work – Williamsburg Ont. Copyright”
Small crack in photo near his head. Ink splotch at top of photo. Several large ink blotches on back.
Based on photographic ‘AZO” paper used, dates from 1924-49.
Unused
(Red text is an electronic watermark that is not physically part of the photo for sale)
Dr. Mahlon W. Locke 1880-1942
Born in nearby Matilda township, Locke studied medicine at Queen's University and in Scotland. In 1908 he opened his medical office in this house. Interested in arthritis, which he believed was caused principally by fallen arches, he treated many arthritics in the following years by manual manipulation of their feet. Large numbers of his patients claimed to be cured or relieved by this method and his reputation spread across North America and overseas. From 1928 onwards thousands of the sick visited Dr. Locke in Williamsburg where he reportedly treated hundreds of persons daily. During the depression years this enormous influx brought significant prosperity to the region.
http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques/Plaque_Stormont11.html
Locke’s fame became assured when he treated popular then renowned novelist Rex Ellington Beach, and subsequently was written up in the August, 1932 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
He soon became overwhelmed with patients demanding his services and would often seat himself in an swivel office chair with lines of patients surrounding him and would rotate from one person to another, sometimes treating 1,000 patients or more daily. His motivation did not seem to be mercenary, however, as he would never charge more than one dollar for his treatments, and still saw conventional patients for 25 cents or free if they couldn’t afford to pay. In fact when several hotels were built in Williamsburg to house his burgeoning clientele, Locke forbade them to charge more than one dollar a night, threatening to build his own hostelry.
https://lifeasahuman.com/2011/feature/the-story-of-the-toe-twister/
