Author: rumblingclint

It had apparently rained during the night but it kept fair all day with a good deal of sunshine + strong W. wind. Cycled round town + made 5 visits. Was over at Viewfield when the drains are all turned up. Cycled to Newtown to annual meeting of Branch: 14 present, Luke¹, Chairman, retired + Fleming² took the Chair. Henderson³ elected Vice. Stiff ride home. Miss Turnbull⁴ (nurse) came to stay for a few days.

¹ Thomas Davy (or Davey) Luke (1873-1922), medical practitioner – at St Ronan’s in 1920; a Cornishman, he died at Bristol

² Not identified

³ Percy J Henderson (fl.1920), medical practitioner – at Church Street, Galashiels in 1920

⁴ There was a previous reference to a Nurse Turnbull of Rinkhope in November 1919 but she is otherwise unidentified

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

Strong S. to S.W. wind blew all day after a wet night + the roads dried so quickly that there was a little dust but the rain came on again in the evening. I saw 8 cases walking + then motored to Faldonside + Black Andro. Mrs James Johnstone¹, Crook Cottage has come down there to be nursed by Mrs Moodie’s ¹ nurse. Dav. + Norah [Graham] were busy all day at Viewfield. Boylan¹ + Isa Paton¹ were at tea + the latter also at lunch. Marion¹ had a cold + couldn’t come. Had letter from Helen [Muir].

¹ Not identified but William Johnstone was at Overkirkhope, 1920 Valuation Roll (Crook Cottage does not appear to have been valued under that name)

¹ James Moody, woodman, was at Blackandrew, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll; he had married, 1911, Isabella H Scott, housekeeper, at Viola Cottage, Lilliesleaf

¹ John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, acquaintance of Dr Muir, sometime of Shawmount, Selkirk

¹ Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929)

¹ Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940)

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

I was up all night with Mrs Walker, Hill Street (Jane Bunyan). It was an R.O.P.¹ but I managed to convert + use high long forceps at 5.30. Got back before breakfast. Feeling pretty tired. It was a dull + drizzling day with heavy rain at night. I saw a few town cases. Paid Feu Duty + Fire Insurance. Met David [Graham, co-partner] at Dundas’ office at 3 + arranged terms of lease of Viewfield. Welsh began work there today. Jean [Muir] ‘phoned that she had got furnished rooms.

¹ Robert Walker, son of Jane or Janet Watt Bunyan (1886-1975) and Richard Walker, baker; they had married in 1916 at Selkirk

² The Right Occiput Posterior position is head down and with the back to the right side

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

A fine day neither so bright nor warm as yesterday. Dust flying with S.E. wind + motors. Mrs Walker¹, Hill Street, hung on all day. Saw her 5 times. Went to morning service. Examined Geo. Crichton² for Scottish Amicable. Dora + I supped at Wellwood. Minnie Baillie³ there.

¹ Jane Watt Walker née Bunyan – see diary entry for 17 May 1920

² George Crichton was at Croft Terrace, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ Not identified

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

Real Summer day at last! Calm and sunny + altogether delightful. Cycled down to Sunderland Hall + found the boy Scott much better. Went on to Viewfield with D. [David] + Norah + Mrs Welsh. Saw Bartie¹ + arranged for him to get T Dicken [?] to test the drains. Saw a few town cases cycling. Made out Income Tax Schedule E which Aikman² says he never got but which I sent a fortnight since. Sat a while in garden. Was called out to Mrs Walker, Hill Street. Saw her again at 7 + 11 but did not stay. D. [Dr David Graham was at Sundhope + Lilliesleaf. Nurse McGilligan left Rockville.

¹ James Bartie (c.1845-?1921), County Road Surveyor & Sanitary Inspector

² Arthur H Aikman (fl.1920), H.M. Inspector of Taxes, was the Assessor at the Commission of Income Tax, Galashiels

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

Brilliant morning + fair all day, duller in afternoon. Sharp N.W. wind. Jean [Muir] left at 6 + most unfortunately I was going over Viewfield with David [Graham] + quite forgot the hour till nearly six when I rushed over to find she had left. I cycled round town + saw a few cases. Made out the remainder of last quarter’s accounts. Found Viewfield in fair order inside but an awful lot of of rubbish to clear away from corners outside + in. It is an enormous house when one goes all through it. Had to go down to Scott¹, Sunderland Hall at 7.30. Nurse McGilligan came to supper + May Lindsay² called.

¹ Not identified

² The Editor has previously assumed that this is Marion ‘May’ Vassie Lindsay (1886-), of Whitehope, Yarrow

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

Strong W. wind + showers all day. Cold. Very little doing, at least for me. I saw 8 cases: + in afternoon posted April with ledger. Dav. Ingles’ fiancée, a Miss Kavanagh¹, who is staying at Forest Road, cale along + I removed a palpebral cyst. Jack + Nancy² came up at night, the latter has had a delightful time at Brampton. I had a talk with Jean³ + told her though I disapproved of her marriage I hoped it would turn out well. Jack is very bitter against it.

¹ David Nicholson Ingles (1888-1933), A.R.H.A., artist, married Margaret Teresa Kavanagh (c.1884-), artist at Forest View, Forest Road, Selkirk, 12 August 1920; his address at the time was 27 Bessborough Street, London but Miss Kavanagh was almost certainly staying at Ingles’ parents’ house

² John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966) And Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, later Pike (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter was to marry a theatrical agent in June 1920

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

Back to wet again. There was no heavy rain but a drizzle nearly all day. Wind slight S.W. There was a message to Crook Cottage¹ + another to Hangingshaw. David [Graham] did them + Sundhope. Old Wilson² at Fauldshope died last night. Saw some town cases. Spent the afternoon making out return of mileage + patients over 2 miles for Selkirk + Roxburgh. Lady Napier paid £30 to account protesting³.

¹ Crook Cottage, Overkirkhope, Ettrick, grid reference NGR NT217,123

² James Wilson, farmer, died 11 May 1920 at Fauldshope, Kirkhope, aged 88; he was the son of William Wilson, farmer, and Isabella Meikle and widower of Margaret Robb, his death was registered by James Wilson, grandson, and certified by “John S Muir M.B. &c”

³ Clarice Jessie Evelyn Napier née Hamilton (1881-1951), the Hon. Lady Napier had been questioning her account, see diary entry for 9 May 1920

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

Warmer today + very little wind. Hazy + dusty: wind S.W.to S.E. Raining from 6 O’clock. Cycled in town + up to Fauldshope. Heard from Thomson re Mellalieu’s kid¹. He diagnoses abdominal Tuberculosis + doesn’t think she will recover. Saw Chalmers re Ambulance. Marked out a lot of accounts. Dora [Muir] went to Gala to see the Patons² + Jean [Muir] had tea at Elmpark³.

¹ See diary entry for 10 May 1920

² Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census] but, to judge by the community appeal for funds to assist in their flit to Galashiels in May 1918, they suffered the fate of many before the Welfare State who tried to survive on a fixed or limited income

³ Home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), Dr Muir’s generous friend

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

There has been no rain today. I imagined I saw several Swifts this morning. There was less wind, W. Cycled round town + then to Lewenshope + Sundhope. Came back the 11.35 miles in 57 minutes. Got tea at 3.15. Was not out after. Mellalieu took his child¹ to Edinburgh to see Thomson. Dav. went to Fauldshope + Ramsaycleuch. Wrote Helen [Muir].

¹ Dorothy Mary Mellalieu (1919-1920), daughter of William Norman Mellalieu, music teacher, and Judith Anne Mellalieu née Hardwick, born 6 November 1919 at Roseneuk, The Glebe, Selkirk

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