Mild + damp + blowy, drizzling towards evening: roads filthy. Message to see Joyce1 at Faldonside. Motored there, Lindean Mill + Bridgelands: Saw a few town cases + at 2.30 at Viewfield gave Chlor[oform] while Dav. operated, first on Mrs Jean Thomson + then on Willie Simpson2 for hernia. Pussy Stewart3 came at 4 + operated on And. Cowan4, dividing certain nerves. I had a letter from Willie Rodger5 from Argentina with some photos. I find that nurse Smith who has been doing night duty at Viewfield comes from Leigh6 + knows Jim Hayes7.
1 Assume Edith Joyce Dees, later Beath (1908-1995), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson
2 Neither Jean Thomson nor Willie Simpson can be readily identified
3 To judge from his previous appearances in the diaries Pussy Stewart must be a medical practitioner but is otherwise unidentified
4 Andrew Cowan, shepherd at Kirkhope or Andrew Cowan, farmer at Dryden, Ashkirk, see also diary entry for 2 November 1920
5 Perhaps William Brydone ‘Willie’ Rodger (1880-1959), son of George Rodger (about 1843-1885), solicitor, and Isabella Margaret or Maggie Rodger née Brydone; born 27 Dec 1880, Selkirk, he was later a stockbroker and was at Sevenoaks, Kent, 1911 Census
6 Leigh, Lancashire
7 James ‘Jim’ Hayes (1866-1939), medical practitioner, son-in-law of Alexander Muir, married to Jessie Geddes Hayes née Muir; born Leigh, Lancashire, they lived at 2 Church Street, Pennington, Leigh, 1891 Census and at Stone House, Leigh, 1901 and 1911
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]
