A really fine summer day. Warm + sunny yet not too hot. I had to sign death certs today for Mrs Anderson, Hyndhope1 + the boy Wilson from E Essenside who died at the Hospital.2 Made 16 Town visits + cycled to Ravensheugh + Newarkburn. Was shocked to see in The Scotsman the notice of John Guthrie Smith’s death + later got a wire from Lizzie whom I wrote.3 Mrs Mack4 having been in Edinburgh brought me a hankie : pair of gloves : box of chocs + gave me 66/- to get a dozen of sparkling Muscatel from Whiteley!5
1 Christina Anderson née Nichol (1877-1923), wife of John Anderson, farm manager, died 28 June 1923 at Hyndhope, Kirkhope, aged 46, death certified by John S Muir M.B. &c.
2 John Sim Wilson (about 1909-1923), assistant shepherd, son of James Wilson, farmer, and Jane Wilson née Pringle, died 28 June 1923, aged 14, at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Selkirk, usual residence Easter Essenside, Ashkirk, of Scarlatina 14 days, Pleuro pneumonia 8 days, death certified by John S Muir M.B. &c.
3 John Guthrie Smith (1868-1923), husband of Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858–1926), daughter of The Reverend James Rennie, Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir, thus Dr Muir’s niece.
4 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, whose home was sometimes referred to by Dr Muir as “The Magic Cave”.
5 Assume Whiteley’s department store, London.
[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 