A miserably cold sunless day quite like snow coming. David had a big day of operations 1 Effie Robertson, Muthag Street1 (appendix), then Mrs Gray [? Guay], Ashkirktown2 (breast) : Mrs Dalgleish, Gala3 [blank space] + finally Walt. Wilson at Beechbank4, whose gall bladder was opened + drained but no gallstones found. An anaesthetist from Edinburgh – Thomas5 – gave the last three, the anaesthetic in Walt Wilson’s case Oxygen + Nitrous Ox.6 Helen7 went to Edinburgh with Mrs Mack8 I saw town cases walking.
1 Euphemia ‘Effie’ Robertson (1897-), daughter of James Robertson, woollen yarn twiner at Gibson & Lumgair, and Elizabeth Robertson nee Douglas of 30 Muthag Street, Selkirk.
2 If this reads Gray or Guay it does not match an entry in the Ashkirk Valuation Rolls or the 1921 Census.
3 Mrs Dalgleish is unidentified.
4 The Editor cannot match a Walter Wilson to Beechbank although two such-named individuals were recorded at Selkirk in the 1921 Census.
5 The anaesthetist Thomas is unidentified.
6 Nitrous oxide had been part of anaesthetic practice for more than 60 years at this time so it is not immediately apparent why its use was worth comment except insofar as it differed from Dr Muir’s normal anaesthetic practice.
7 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
8 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 