20 April 1904 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Rose at 5 breakfasted + left at 7.12 for Crook Cottage.¹ Rode there without a dismount (except to stop at the door of Tushielaw Inn² to pay for a hire on 1^st) in 2 h. 2 m. Came back (allowing for a stop to speak to Wm Johnston at Ettrickhall³ + another at Ettrick…[?] P.O.) in 1 h 53 m. Dull day with a cold N.E. wind which got stronger + colder in the afternoon. There was little or no sunshine. Came back by Haining + Castle Street. Had only 2 calls to make in afternoon. As I had to send medicine to Bewlie⁴, Baptie⁵ drove there + took Helen⁶, Nurse Taylor⁷ + Nancy.⁸ Mrs Johnstone, Crook Cottage, much better : much thinner : am sending her Bynin emulsion [see below] + ercosotal.⁹

¹ Dr Muir had been attending Mary Johnstone née Hewitson (about 1853-1904), wife of William Johnstone, roadman, living at Crook Cottage.

² The Tushielaw Inn, Kirkhope grid reference NGR NT30370,17810, visible on Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XVIII.NW, published 1900.

³ Nobody named William Johnstone appears to be linked at this time with Ettrickhall, Ettrick, grid reference NGR NT30370,17810, visible on Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XVII.SE, published 1900.

⁴ Dr Muir recorded visiting Bewlie, Lilliesleaf, on 17 April 1904 but did not name his patient.

⁵ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁷ Nurse Taylor is so far unidentified.

⁸ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁹ Ercosotal is so far unidentified. It looks like a proprietary name and is mentioned fleetingly in Spanish sources being taken with lime.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]