[Eric in the Ozarks]

Someone with better knowledge of the UK might answer.
I think this era was before the wide-scale Indian-Paki migration to Britain.

[pricilla]

Correct,widescale Paki immigration got into full swing in the early 60’s and continued thus for 20 years..

[paudio]

While big influx of South Asian didn’t start until the 60s, European fixation to exotic Asia had been around for long, at least to the 19th century. Arts, knowledge, and medicine from the East were romanticized as ‘purer’ to the Western counterpart (needless to say, many Westerners still hold similar views). So, street medicine sold by Indian would look more authentic and potent.