16 January 1920 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

An extraordinary mild day, with the temp. in my room 50^o + the Surgery lobby running with moisture. Lady Napier¹ curetted. Saw about 14 town cases + didn’t get tea till 2.45. Got very little done at accounts. Called at Elmpark + told Lady B.² about the operation on Lady Napier. Saw Agnes Durnford³. Mrs Laidlaw, Castle Street (formerly Haining Lodge) in the most awful state of [illegible words]. Saw Nurse Beck about her. Fowler¹ wanted her moved to Poorhouse but she was quite unfit.

¹ Clarice Jessie Evelyn Napier née Hamilton (1881-1951), the Hon., Lady Napier

¹ Georgina Hamilton née Watson (1856-1940), the Hon., Lady Belhaven and Stenton

¹ Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976)

¹ James Laidlaw and Isabella Laidlaw née Christopherson (about 1854-1920) were at Haining West Lodge in 1911 Census and had married there in 1889; she died the next day, 17th January, at 61 Castle Street, Selkirk, aged 66, of “general debility” certified by John S Muir M.B.

¹ William Fowler (about 1863-1933), Inspector of Poor and Registrar, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]