Author: rumblingclint

Much milder + front frost practically gone though there was a little rime on the road near Lindean Mill. Made 18 town calls (including Heather, Tweed + Linglie Mills) partly walking + partly cycling + also Faldonside. Dav. [Graham] went down at night + I saw Robert Kemp¹, Spion Kop for him. Got letter from John Woodger², Golfhill, Corstorphine, asking advice + wrote him with prescription.

¹ Perhaps Robert Watson Kemp (1915-), son of Henry Otto Kemp, powerloom tuner, and Janet Stirling Kemp née Scott; he was born and they lived at Ashybank, Selkirk, part of which is known as Spion Kop

² Mark John Woodger (1883-1938) was inhabitant occupier at Golfhall, Corstorphine, 1920 Valuation Roll; he was born at Lilliesleaf

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

Had a good night after a dose of cough Mixt. + Heroin. Took breakfast in bed. Would have cycled to Faldonside but the hoar frost on the roads deterred me. Motored to Faldonside + Peelburnfoot in the afternoon. D. [Graham] was at Ettrickshaws + Bowhill. The frost had gone by night + the pavements were moist. I did not require to go back to Faldonside at night as they ‘Phoned that Phyllis¹ was keeping easier.

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

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

The Coryza¹ developed rapidly + I decided to keep my bed. It was a lovely cloudless [?] day + hard frost. David was twice at Faldonside + found Phyllis² much better. I hope it is not a mere temporary improvement such as we have seen before. Posted some county accounts. Read [The] Scotsman + Mrs Asquith’s autobiography³ which Mrs Mack⁴ sent me.

¹ Dr Muir appears to be prone to these catarrhal inflammations of his mucous membrane

² Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

³ Published by Thornton Butterworth, 1920, ‘The Autobiography of Margot Asquith’ is the biography of Alice Emma Margaret ‘Margot’ Asquith née Tennant (1864-1945), Countess of Oxford and Asquith and wife of Herbert Henry ‘H. H.’ Asquith (1852-1928), 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1908-1916 [her name based on Statutory Birth Registration, 1864, 771/1, Traquair, Peeblesshire]

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

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

Dreadful murder of 14 Officers in Dublin¹

Keen frost + brilliant cloudless day + equally bright moonlight. No fog + no wind. Saw Phyllis Dees² twice + thought her worse. She is becoming almost comatose. Had some dinner there. Gave Dav. gas at Clark’s³ to have a tooth out. Took Ailie⁴ down to Faldonside in the evening. Thought I felt some symptoms of Coryza⁵ coming on as I came home from Faldonside. Took Mrs Dees down a small Selkirk Bannock⁶.

¹ 21 November 1920 was called Bloody Sunday (Domhnach na Fola) after the I.R.A., organised by Michael Collins, killed or fatally injured 16, mostly British Army intelligence officers, after which members of the Auxiliary Division and R.I.C. opened fire on the crowd at a Gaelic football match in Croke Park, killing or fatally wounding 14, while later still two Irish republicans and a civilian were murdered at Dublin Castle by their captors; it was 2007 before Ireland and England played rugby at Croke Park

² Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

³ Assume Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (1879-1943), dental surgeon at 8 The Green, Selkirk and of Ettrickbridge [1920 Valuation Roll]

⁴ Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne (about 1891-1955)

⁵ Dr Muir appears to be going down with another catarrhal inflammations of his mucous membrane

⁶ For those unfortunate enough to have missed out, a Selkirk bannock is a rich, buttery and fruity leavened tea bread

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

Was knocked up at 3 a.m. for John Scott, Beechbank¹

Another lovely day but sharper and tending to frost at night. W.C. [weather cock] pointed N. at first but went round to S.W. again. Dav. [Graham] + I motored to Faldonside at 9.30 + D. did a lumbar puncture again. Phyllis² still very drowsy + pulse far too quick. She is getting Stropanthin³ hypodermically. Then we went to Middlestead to curette Mrs Henry⁴ + D. found he had come away without his instruments so we went back. Opened an abscess for Geo. Rutherford under gas + went back to Middlestead. Saw some town cases walking. Motored to Faldonside again at night in the densest fog. We had difficulty in seeing. Jack, Nancy⁵ + Mrs Mack⁶ at supper.

¹ John Scott, millworker, was proprietor of 3 and 4 Beechbank Cottages, Selkirk and occupier of No. 4 [1920 Valuation Roll]

² Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

³ Strophanthins, now known to be steroidal cardiac glycosides, “were isolated from African plant sources (arrow poisons) in the late 19th century. By the 1880s, galenical preparations of strophanthus were commonly prescribed for cardiac patients as a substitute for digitalis. Intravenous (IV) strophanthin-K was popularised for the treatment of cardiac failure between 1910 and 1935” [Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S053151310200729X ]

⁴ Agnes D Henry née Craik (c.1893-), married Peter Henry, ploughman, 30 April 1919 at the Lawson Memorial Free Church Manse, his second marriage; he was inhabitant occupier not rated of a house at Middlestead, Selkirk

⁵ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and her husband John ‘Jack’ Robert (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk

⁶ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

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

A most perfect day: calm, sunny + mild. Cycled to Faldonside, returning by Hospital, Mill Street, Ettrickhaugh Road, Yarrow Terrace + Kirkwynd. Phyllis D. [Dees¹] i.s.q. [but very lethargic]. David went down at night. Hounds at Riddell². Mrs Mack³ hired a car + took Helen + Ailie⁴ to the meet with Mitchell⁵ as a guide. They saw a good deal of the hunt. Timmy⁶ was in at the death + got the brush. Somers [?] “blooded” him⁷.

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

² Riddell, Lilliesleaf

³ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne (1890-1955)

⁵ Assume Alexander Mitchell (fl.1920), chauffeur, “Inhabitant Occupier, not rated” at Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, John Roberts junior, manufacturer, Proprietor [1920 Valuation Roll]

⁶ George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), Dr Muir’s grandson

⁷ The Editor speculates that this is Dr Muir’s misspelling of Summers; the Huntsman of the Duke of Buccleuch’s Hunt from 1902 to 1948 being George Summers The History of the Buccleuch Hunt

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

Had not been long in bed when I was called out at 12.30 to see Mr Creighton¹, Forest Road. Was rather late of rising. Cycled to to [sic] Forest Road, Glenlora², Mavisbank, Faldonside (Phyllis³ the better for ice to her head pupils reading better) [and] Peelburnfoot. Helen⁴ + Ailie⁵ + I dined at Elmpark. Jack + Nancy⁶ there. Saw Mr Creighton again before dinner. D. [Graham] at Faldonside at night.

¹ Walter Bowman Creighton (c.1836-1921), proprietor of a house and garden at 27 Forest Road, Selkirk [1920 Valuation Roll]; he was a retired and twice widowed Cumberland farmer but significantly Martha S Ingles (1873-1945) who was his housekeeper (1911 Census) and his second wife Lillian ‘Lily’ Nicholson’s niece, was Selkirk born – her mother was a Nicholson too – and she appears to have inherited the Forest Road house

² Dr Muir had been attending Sinclair Ross (c.1870-1948), Caithness born solicitor who was proprietor at Glenlora, Viewfield Park, Selkirk

³ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter

⁵ Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne (about 1891-1955)

⁶ John ‘Jack’ Roberts and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir, Dr Muir’s son-in-law and daughter

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

Saw 4 town cases on my way to the station where I got the 11.1 + went to Glasgow for a meeting of the Red X Comm^ttee. Had ³/₄ of an hour to wait in Edinburgh. Walked along Princes Street + bought some cakes at Ritchie’s to eat in the train. Got to Glasgow at 2.10 + found my way to the Central Station Hotel. The meeting was very uninteresting + I got the 4 Xpress back to Ed. Had some supper at the Picture House + saw the pictures + came out by the last train. D. [Graham] was twice at Faldonside¹. It was a fair + rather mild but blowy day.

¹ Presumably seeing Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

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

Gale quite subsided: a good deal of sun. Glass [barometer] rising: roads of course very muddy. Cycled in own + round by Forest Mill to Faldonside. Phyllis¹ had a sleep of 5 hours 50 minutes + was very easy + comfortable. Called at Sunderland Hall Lodge, Hospital + Mavisbank. Made out some of last quarter’s account that had been left over. Helen² + Ailie³ went for tea at Elmpark. Bella⁴ I bed. Went down to Faldonside after dinner + also to Young, Lindean⁵.

David at a meeting in Edinburgh.

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

³ Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne (1890-1955)

⁴ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

⁵ James Young was tenant occupier at Lindean, Galashiels, 1920 Valuation Roll

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

Still blowy + showery but less violent. David [Graham] + I went down to Faldonside and D. did a lumbar puncture¹ with much less pain to the patient than when “Spoof”² operated. While we were there Baptie³ took Ailie Boyd Wilson⁴ up to Thorncroft⁵. Came back by Mill Street + Forest Road. Opened rectal abscess for Hugh Gallocher⁶. Was called out in evening to Ross⁷, Glenlora + then to Hogg⁸, Elmrow. Examined a man Towns (nephew of the Provost T.) for Scottish Widows⁹. Went back to Faldonside at night. Phyllis had [illegible] day T.99. but pulse 140 + weak. Ailie + Helen had tea at Levenlea¹⁰ + went to the Pictures. Voting took place on the licensing parties [illegible] at Victoria Hall. Wrote Dora [Muir].

¹ Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she had been involved in a car accident near Berrybush while travelling between the Gordon Arms and Tushielaw

² Spoof may be Scott Skirving – see diary entry for 9 November 1920

³ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁴ Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne (1890-1955)

⁵ Thorncroft, 16 Scott’s Place, Selkirk was Dr Muir’s home

⁶ Hugh Gallocher (1876-), shoemaker and husband of Mary Ann Wood, was tenant at 68 Forest Road, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁷ Sinclair Ross (c.1870-1948), Caithness born solicitor, was proprietor at Glenlora, Viewfield Park, Selkirk, 1918 Valuation Roll

⁸ Henry Hogg, millworker, was at 2 Elm Row,Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁹ David Towns (1857-1949), master house painter, was at West Port, Selkirk; originally from Fettercairn, Kincardineshire, he had a couple of brothers and it is not possible to identify his nephew with confidence

¹⁰ Levenlea, Philliphaugh, Selkirk was the home of John Harrison junior, manufacturer, 1920 Valuation Roll

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