Author: rumblingclint

Much nicer day with some sunshine. I felt better + was up + out. Saw 9 town cases walking + went to Faldonside¹ with David [Graham] in the afternoon. Met Bramwell² at 4. We had a long conversation but Bramwell could throw no further light on the case. He prescribed Sod. Iodide. Mrs Tom Brown³ was worse + David got Scott Skirving⁴ to come out at night to operate again. It was nearly 12 when D. came for me to go over and [sentence incomplete].

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 Edwin ‘Ed’ Bramwell (1873-1952), Professor, M.B., Ch.B., F.R.C.P.E., Scottish neurologist, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh from 1933 to 1935

³ Mary Ritchie Brown née Johnstone or Johnston (1876-1920), died 6 November 1920, of a gastric ulcer, aged 44, at Viewfield nursing Home, usual residence Gowanlea, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk; she was the daughter of Ebenezer Johnstone or Johnston, woollen pattern weaver, and Hannah Johnston or Johnston née Redpath, married 1873, Ladhope, and wife of Tom Brown, watchmaker

⁴ Archibald Adam Scott Skirving (1869-1930), M.B., C.M., lecturer in Clinical Surgery, Royal Edinburgh Infirmary

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

I kept my bed today in an attempt to abort a Coryza in which I succeeded fairly well. I took cough mixt. + Terpine [?] every 4 hours + included “Metona”, a bottle of which Mrs Dees¹ had given me. It appears to be chiefly Menthol + Eucalyptus. David came in several times. Mrs T Brown², on whom he did a gastro enterostomy, is very ill + he [Dr Graham] is practically staying at Viewfield³. He went down to Faldonside⁴. It was another sunless day + some rain at night.

¹ Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, wife of the new (1920) tenant at Faldonside

² Mary Ritchie Brown née Johnstone or Johnston (1876-1920), the wife of Tom Brown, watchmaker

³ Viewfield, the Muir and Graham co-partnery’s new (1920) cottage hospital

⁴ Presumably to see 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]

This was the 5th consecutive day without sunshine. The W.C. [weather cock] pointed S.E. but there wasn’t a breath of wind. The smoke from the chimney went up in straight columns. Saw Mrs R Dickson¹ with Nurse Beck² + one or two others. Motored to Heatherlie, Faldonside + Hospital. Miss Dees³ keeping a little better. Intended having an afternoon writing + began a letter to Patrick⁴ but was called out first to Mrs Millar⁵ (Ronaldson), Bridge Street + then to a boy McDonald, Clifton Road. Felt a cold coming on + did not go to the surgery for consult[ation]. Helen at Picture House with Nancy⁶ + a Mrs Brown⁷.

¹ Not identified

² Elizabeth Fyfe Beck (1865-1954), nurse, 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

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 Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902

⁵ Margaret Helen Campbell Ronaldson (1899-1972), woollen weaver of Bridge Street, Selkirk, had married James McKay Millar, wool cleaner, on 6 May 1920 at Edinburgh; she was the daughter of David Ronaldson and Margaret Ann Ronaldson née Brown, married 1898, Selkirk

⁶ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

¹ Not identified

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

Still absolutely sunless [word deleted] + East wind but less of it so it was not as piercingly cold. Motored early to Faldonside. Nurse Hogarth left today + 2 nurses, Harper + McMillan arrived from Miss Graham’s¹. I went down again about 5 + met them. Phyllis² was easier then [and] there had been no more vomiting. At 10.30 I met Dav. [Graham] + Jeffery³ at Viewfield for a gastrostomy on Mrs T Brown⁴, then appendectomy on Janet Neil⁵ + lastly an operation on And. Cowan⁶. I was there from 10.30 till 2.55. After my tea at 3.30 I went to Beechwood⁷. Voted in the Municipal election.

¹ The nurses are not identified but Miss Graham’s refers to the Scottish Association of Trained Nurses at 15 Alva Street, Edinburgh (sometimes described as “Miss Graham’s Home for Trained Nurses (Co-operative System”) of which Miss Elizabeth Graham was Matron

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 Not identified

⁴ Mary Ritchie Brown née Johnstone or Johnston (1876-1920), the wife of Tom Brown, watchmaker

⁵ Not identified

⁶ Andrew Cowan, shepherd at Kirkhope or farmer at Dryden, Ashkirk

⁷ Miss Jemima Colville was Occupier of property at Beechwood, Selkirk, from 1911 to 1931 Valuation Rolls

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

A dull, bitterly cold dry day. It seemed as if it would not come to snow. The glass [barometer] was rising rapidly + the wind was E. Saw 4 town cases walking + 4 cycling on my way to Faldonside. Found Phyllis¹ very poorly + ordered her some Champagne. Saw also Howieson the butler + his wife². After tea cycled to Smedheugh. Had to go down to Faldonside after dinner. Miss Dees had been sick in the morning but not since the Champagne. Long letter from Patrick³.

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 Not identified

³ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902

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

Very sharp S.E. wind: quite cold enough for snow + the sky looked like it too. It kept quite dry however. I cycled to Faldonside + Hospital (D. sent in a case of Scarlet yesterday, thinking it was Diphtheria). Miss Dees¹ looking better but wandering terribly. Her memory seems gone. Walked up to Heathpark for Miss Hall². Was in house all afternoon + got books [text deleted] made up for the end of the month. Didn’t get to evening service as a message came for Jeannie Wright³, Clifton Road. Supped at Wellwood⁴, a little rain after dark + milder. Wind high.

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 Janet Hall (c.1846-1930), spinster, was Proprietor Occupier of a house at 3 Heath Park, Selkirk [1920 Valuation Roll]

³ Assume Jane Roberts ‘Jeannie’ Wright (1898-1975), daughter of Andrew Wright, tailor’s cutter, and Isabella Wright née Johnstone

⁴ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of the Roberts family, Dr Muir’s daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren ‘The Wellwooders’

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

Frost gone + good S.E. wind blowing: dull + rather threatening but no rain. Some dust flying in High Street. Motored first thing to Faldonside [and] made Fiff¹ keep her bed today. Ed. Bramwell² came at 4 + I met him there. He could not give a very definite opinion on the cause of the mental impairment but thought the most probable cause might be oedema of brain. He advised resuming the Uratropine + absolute quiet. He back [sic] with me to Viewfield to see Dav. [Graham], co-partner] about Mrs Taylor³. Helen + Barb.⁴ had a run with the hounds which met at [illegible] Knowes. I was at Sundheugh in the morning before going to Faldonside.

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

² Professor Edwin Bramwell F.R.S.E, F.R.C.P.E., L.L.D., (1873-1952), 20th century Scottish neurologist, a First World War specialist in brain injuries and shell-shock and was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 1933-1935

³ Not identified

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s third daughter and eldest granddaughter respectively

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

Weather exactly the same: sharp hoar frost: clear sunny day: very slight S.E. air. Saw half a doz. town cases walking + cycled to Miss Dunn¹, Miss Hall², Goslaw Green, Curror Street + Faldonside. Found Miss Dees³ very poorly + agreed to get Ed. Bramwell⁴ out tomorrow. Gave anasthetic to little girl MacRae⁵ from Black Andro while Dav. removed the end of her left forefinger. Had to go down to Faldonside at night. Phyllis had a lot of retching. Gave champagne with good effect. Had dinner there. Helen [Muir] had supper at Viewfield⁶.

¹ Not identified

² Janet Hall (c.1846-1930), spinster, was Proprietor Occupier of a house at 3 Heath Park, Selkirk [1920 Valuation Roll]

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 Professor Edwin Bramwell F.R.S.E, F.R.C.P.E., L.L.D., (1873-1952), 20th century Scottish neurologist, a First World War specialist in brain injuries and shell-shock and was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 1933-1935

⁵ Not identified, no family of this name is noted at Blackandrew in the 1920 or 1921 Valuation Rolls

⁶ Viewfield was the Muir and Graham co-partnery’s new (1920) cottage hospital

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

Weather the same: hard frost + heavy rime: a cloudless sky all day + a Harvest Moon at night. Cycled to Elmrow, Goslaw Green, Wellwood Stables (where I put up Mitchell’s arm in starch¹), Gib. & Lum., Black Andro: called at Mauldsheugh. Sat in the bower again. It was quite warm till the sun disappeared behind the church. Got a pleasant surprise at Frank Scott’s account for painting the house viz £48-18-11.

¹ Alexander Mitchell (fl.1920), chauffeur living at Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk had fallen off a horse on 2 October 1920 whilst riding at Headshaw with two of Dr Muir’s grandsons

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

Keen hoar frost again + dense fog but it cleared away soon + the day was much clearer than yesterday. I gave chlor[oform] to Thorburn’s baby¹ at Dandswall + Dav. [Graham] circumcised. Saw a few town cases + walked out to Smedheugh getting back at 2. Sat for while in the bower + discovered how soon the church hides over the sun from the garden. Drew £200 from the M + G [Muir and Graham account].

¹ Alastair Murray Thorburn (1920-2017), born 1920, at Dandswall, Shawpark Road, Selkirk, son of Malcolm Murray Thorburn (1889-1977), manufacturer and sometime soldier, and Mary Alison Thorburn née Brodie, married 1916, St Giles, Edinburgh; Alastair was a soldier in later life, a Colonel in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, trained at Sandhurst and at Achnacharry, seeing combat with No. 4 Commando on D-Day and at Walcheren (awarded a Croix de Guerre for his part in the latter)

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