Author: rumblingclint

Beautiful day with brilliant sunshine but a sharp N.W. to N. wind. Hazy in afternoon + casting up from S.W. Motored via Tweed Mill to Nest, Bogle House¹ + Yair Bridge. After lunch took Kelty + walked out to Gala Rig expecting a fine view but to the S. + W. it was very thick. The sun was shining on Cheviot + I saw no snow there nor anywhere. Wrote Barbara². H. + Nancy³ at Picture House. Roads drying.

¹ The Bogle House, possibly a ruin, appears to be in the area of Ashiestiel Bridge; the Editor would welcome information

² Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), one of Dr Muir’s granddaughters

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), two of Dr Muir’s daughters

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

Mild but very dull + Scotch mist till after midday W. [wind]. Motored out to Longmoss + found both patients better¹: then to Beechwood Sawmill + Bowhill. Saw half a dozen town cases. Got at ledger + finished posting February at night. Examined two brothers Drummond from Lindean² for the Commercial Union Insu. Co.³

¹ See diary entry for 29 February 1920

² John Drummond and Andrew Holmes Drummond, separate tenants at Lindean, Galashiels Parish [1920 Valuation Roll]

³ Commercial Union Life Assurance Company Ltd was incorporated in 1904 as the British General Insurance Company and became part of the Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd in 1926. Aviva provide three fabulous s facts from its history; that in 1910 the company turned down the opportunity to insure actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was appearing at the London Coliseum that year, that in 1916 their board decided that women drivers would only be covered if tram companies paid an extra premium, and that in 1922 the company agreed to insure a wine and spirit trader in case prohibition was established in the UK [information courtesy of Aviva Group Archive
https://heritage.aviva.com/our-history/companies/c/commercial-union-life-assurance-company-ltd/]

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

Beautiful sunny forenoon + much milder but after midday it got cloudy, Misty + drizzly. I thought to get to forenoon service but did not get back from Manorhill, Nest, Bogle House, Hospital +c till 12. Then I saw Mrs Miller, Elmrow. Went to evening service when [The] Reverend [Mr] Ross¹ reminded me that there had not been a February with 5 Sundays for 40 years + there would not be another for 28. Went out to Longmoss at 8 p.m. for David to see Maggie Anderson’s baby² + Mrs Fairbairn³.

¹ The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister

² John Walter Anderson, born 2 August 1919, at Longmoss, Lindean (Galashiels), son of Margaret Paterson Fairbairn and Adam Anderson, ploughman, married 1 August 1919 at Bowden; Maggie was married from Longmoss, her new husband was from Houdshall south of Clarilawmuir

³ It is probable that this refers to Mrs Jane Fairbairn née Keddie, Maggie’s mother, who lived at Longmoss too, with her husband Archibald Fairbairn, a farmer

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

Not a ray of sunshine today. Dull morning : cold S.W.W. wind: mist + drizzle. In afternoon cycled to Home, Dunsdale, Hospital, Nest + Bogle House. Roads better. Message at night to Scott, Manorhill. David went. Last night D. was called to a confinement Watson, Ettrickhall (illigit.). Helen was at a conjuring &c entertainment in the Volunteer Hall.

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

A day of constant sunshine but with a most bitter dry N. wind. There had been some rain during the night. I was surprised to find a little heap of yesterday week’s snow at the back of the Toll. I had a very small town list + did them walking including Hospital (where I dressed Rob. Beattie’s neck¹), Dunsdale, Forest Road, Kirkwynd + Backrow. Was not out after 2. Bella² was out + Nancy was doing all the work.

¹ See diary entry for 24 February 1920

² Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

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

The last of the snow of this day week on the roof of the hay shed disappeared today. Patches are still visible on the hills. Today was fresh + blowy with slight showers in the afternoon. I cycled to Goslaw Green, Forest Mill, Cannon Street, Beechwood + Bowhill seeing half a doz. town cases. At 3 at the Home gave Jean Oliver chlor[oform] while Dav. incised + drained her knee joint + then I walked to Gibson + Lumgair, Sloebank + Eastfield. Helen cycled to Meigle to see Elsie [?] Elliot who is there with 2 of her kids. Mrs Steedman ‘Phoned me that she had met Jim + Jessie Hayes¹ at Fowey².

¹ James ‘Jim’ Hayes and his wife Jessie Geddes Thomson Hayes née Muir (1860-1930), daughter of Alexander Muir and thus Dr Muir’s niece

² The Editor assumes that the Hayes were on holiday at Fowey [assonant with Hawick], Cornwall, a beautiful coastal town but one with famous literary connections too in Dame Daphne du Maurier, author of Rebecca, Jamaica Inn and Frenchman’s Creek and Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch or ‘Q’, editor of the Oxford Book Of English Verse which became a cultural phenomenon during and after the First World War because its compact edition was so often carried to the Front by soldiers

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

Very nice day but foggy, some hoar frost. S.W. [wind]. Muddy in places. Just a vestige of last weeks snow in hay shed. Cycled to Bowhill, Victoria Crescent, Pinegrove, Bleachfield Road, Hospital, Ettrick Mill (re cause of Anthrax¹) + Bowhill where I saw Mrs Ordish² ‘Phoned to Miss Graham for a nurse. Leaving at 1 I cycled to Riddell (vis Midlem) and Kirklea³ where I gave the “Pirates” a box of Edinburgh Rock⁴. The roads before Riddell + N. Sinton are awful. I put in 25 miles. H.⁵ + C. Smith⁶ at Pictures. Another letter from Patrick⁷ with a birthday present of a pickle fork.

¹ See diary entry for 24 February 1920

² Hannah Ordish (about 1845-1920), housekeeper at Bowhill

³ Kirklea, Ashkirk, home of William Henry ‘W H’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), poet, author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets and Katherine Margaret Scott Anderson

⁴ The Pirates are presumably their children Margaret Deloraine ‘Wendy’ Ogilvie (1909-2003) and George Thomas Anderson ‘Geordo’ Ogilvie (1912-1995), later a land agent

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter

⁶ Perhaps Catherine Adam ‘Katie’ Smith (1874-1929), daughter of Thomas Smith, tweed manufacturer, and Katie Smith MS Locke

⁷ 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]

Saw 15 town cases cycling including Ettrickhaugh Road + Cannon Street. David [Graham, co-partner] was away all day at a confinement, Mrs H Allan, Riddell and came back for me about 4 to give chlor[oform]. We got the case over all right. Child weighed 10 lbs¹. Robert Beattie², Kirkwynd developed anthrax³ + I got him down to the Hospital where Dav. [Dr David Graham] excised the malignant pustule from his neck. Letter from Patrick⁴.

¹ Andrew Sanderson Allan, born 24 February 1920 at Riddell Gardens, the son of Harry Weston Sanderson Allan, estate joiner, and Maria Young Allan née Steele; the parents had married 8 April 1916

² Robert Beattie, labourer, of 39 Kirk Wynd, Selkirk [1920 Valuation Roll]

³ The following description seems to match Dr Muir’s description nicely “Malignant pustule, or external anthrax, is nearly always single. The following case in which three, and perhaps four, were present, is therefore of special interest. The careful record of the facts is due to Mr F Talbot, M.B. the acting casualty officer. The treatment by excision of the pustule is nearly always followed by rapid disappearance of all serious symptoms and by prompt convalescence. This result may be counted upon if the bacilli have not penetrated the lymphatics and been carried beyond the local disease. Infection of the resulting wound by bacilli cannot be a really serious danger. The writer has seen many pustules excised, but never once any recurrence in the wounds.” [‘A Case of Multiple Malignant Pustules (Anthrax)’ by R Lawford Knaggs, M.C., F.R.C.S., Assistant Surgeon to the Leeds Royal Infirmary, British Medical Journal, 20 July 2001, page 135]. Anthrax presenting in this manner appears to have been a bit of an occupational disease of woolsorters and similar occupations

⁴ 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]

Started early + cycled to Yair Bridge, Nest, Bogle House + also saw William Kirkwood¹ the gardener, who wishes to transfer from Henderson. Got back a little late for meeting wit McKellar² + Public Health Com^ttee in Pollok’s Office, all the doctors were there. We discussed the measures to be taken in view of Influenza. In afternoon I cycled to Beechwood Saw Mill + Bowhill = 18.5 miles. Keeping fresh + very little snow left about the town. There is still some in hay-shed.

¹ William Kirkwood, overseer, was at East Lodge, Fairnilee, Caddonfoot [1920 Valuation Roll]

² George McKellar (about 1860-1923), M.B., C.H., M.D., D.P.H., sometime ophthalmic specialist at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and at Jerusalem, later Medical Officer of Health for Kelso, Hawick and Selkirk

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

Another rapid + complete change to fresh weather. It blew moderately from W.S.W. + the snow disappeared rapidly but not entirely. David rang up at 4 a.m. about a case of eclampsia at Fauldshope. He got the patient (a girl of 18) down to Mauldsheugh as there was a possibility of Caesarean section which Scott [illegible] would have done: but he managed to [illegible] + deliver with forceps [?]. This took till after 7. Then at 10 D. operated on [illegible] Finney for femoral Hernia + Scott [illegible] on Geo. Riddell, Lilliesleaf for enlarged prostate. This took till 1. Then I motored to Bowhill. In the morning I saw cases at Dunsdale Cottages, Heatherliebank, Ettrick Road + Cannon Street. Went to evening service. Jack + Nancy at supper.

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