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Miraculous Mr Bones' When Don son Peter was born, he was so sickly that the district nurses suggested that they try for another baby as soon as possible.... 
Peter in Essex |
One of the nurses also suggested that a warmer climate might help Peter.
On board the Castel Feliche |
Don was a postman, and didn't have much spare cash, but a neighbour's nephew in Western Australia helped.
Ted Crook and his wife Pat were very kind to the Ellis family and sponsored their immigration application.
Their journey on board the Castel Feliche lasted for weeks, and with three children under four, Don's wife sick even before the boat got going, and a boat so crowded you had to take it in turns to go out on the decks, it was not a comfortable voyage. The boat went up the Suez canal and stopped at Aden, rolling like a barrel before reaching Australia.
The Ellis' settled in Freemantel. Ted Crook and his wife Pat found them a flat and Don a job. Peter was still poorly. 
Black sand in the garden |
One day a chap came round to collect donations and seeing Peter, suggested that he saw 'Mr Bones' - a Mr Martinovich in Freemantel. He was a chiropracter (not then recognised as a legitimate form of medical treatment in Australia).
Mr Martinovich found that Peter's spine was bent. He made up a poultice of what looked like eggs and black sand and told them to keep it on Peter's back over night. The next day he worked two tennis balls up and down the spine, re-aligning joints. Because Peter's muscles had grown out of kilter to compensate for his bent spine, Don was told to massage him regularly for the next few weeks.
Peter with his sisters |
Within days Peter was running around for the first time in his life. His health was transformed. Peter is now over 6ft, 16 stone and the father of a boisterous three year. Mr Martinovich became famous around West Australia and when he died his son took over the (now fully recognised) Chiropractic business.
For information on Chiropractic in the UK:
Facts and Stats
Loads of useful information on Chiropractic
The British Chiropractic Association
If Peter's recovery strikes a chord
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