12 December 1920 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

I was called last night at 9 to Mrs Hudson, Buccleuch Road. She was very ill so I came home + went down again at 11.45. I got her over¹ at 1 (C. + F.²) but found the placenta adherent + had to separate it from the uterus. Did not get to bed till 3.30. Late with breakfast. Went down with Nurse Beck³ + got Mrs H douched + changed. She was pretty well. Motored to Riddell⁴. As I came home this morning it was beginning to snow + there were some heavy showers of snow in the forenoon. Later it got soft. Helen⁵ was down at Elmpark⁶ for lunch. Saw Mrs Hudson in evening: went to evening service + supped at Wellwood⁷.

¹ Agnes Lynch Hudson (1920-1974), daughter of John William Hudson and Ann Purves ‘Annie’ Hudson née Lynch, born 12 December 1920 at Buccleuch Road, Selkirk

² Assume chloroform and forceps

³ Nurse Elizabeth Fyfe Beck (1865-1954), born Dumfriesshire, died Ceres, Fife; the Southern Reporter, 10 August 1916, describes her as a District Nurse at Selkirk before she was released to take up military nursing and she had obviously returned there

⁴ Dr Muir had been visiting Riddell, Lillieleaf to see Mark Sprot

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter

⁶ Elmpark, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

⁷ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of the Roberts family

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