Author: rumblingclint

Cheerless sunless day with several showers+ cold W. wind. Was knocked up at 2 a.m. for Jo. Thomson, Viewfield Lodge¹ (formerly Sunderland + Haining) who had retention [?]. Motored to Curror Street + Beechwood + Philiphaugh Cottages + went to morning service. Spent the afternoon chiefly adding up cycle mileage to end of September. Helen² in her last letter hinted at the possibility of Frank Muir³ coming here on his way to Foulden⁴ but he didn’t turn up. Dav.⁵ called + gave me a shock by telling me that Nancy⁶ has a touch of Exophthalmic goitre⁷ + he has put her to bed for a fortnight. Saw her went [sic] I supped at Wellwood⁸.

¹ John Thomson is so far unidentified.

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, who had been away from Selkirk for a long time since she and Dr Muir travelled south to stay with Muir relations in Surrey on 16 July 1923.

³ Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and managing director, the son of Gavin Struthers Muir (1846-1927), presbyterian minister, and Helen Drysdale Muir née Wilson, thus Dr Muir’s nephew.

⁴ Foulden, Berwickshire, grid reference NGR NT932,558.

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

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

⁷ Exophthalmic goitre or Graves Disease, is an endocrine disease which is a common cause of hyperthyroidism.

⁸ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

There were one or two slight showers today but on the way whole it was a [sic] better one than we have had. There was a fair amount of sun + a cold W. wind. Very little doing. Walked to Curror Street + Hospital + then to Tower Street, Backrow + Tait’s Hill. Sat in smoke room + added my cycling mileage for last year. Jan. 1 – Dec 31. Professional = 1487.98 – non = 1084.75. Total 2572.73. Apr 1 /22 – Apr 1 23 prof = 1598.78.¹ Bella² paid some accounts.

¹ Those are interesting numbers. Dr Muir cycled, for work and for leisure, a shade over 7 miles every day of that year.

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Actually had stewed fresh raspberries at dinner. Streets wet but no rain till the evenin. Some sunshine: S.W. [wind] Still cold. Message to Mrs Barnes, Curror Street¹ who had fallen on her stair + hurt her back. Saw her again at night. Saw a few other town cases + was in the house from 11.30. Added up professional mileage from 1/4/22 to 31/3/2023 = 1263.58² Wrote Helen.³ Made out some of the books + sent for payment. Message to see a tramp at Lilliesleaf at 6.30 [?]. Motored there. It was a woman + her child, the former with mammary schirrus [scirrhous].⁴

¹ There was more than one Barnes household in Curror Street, Selkirk at this time so Mrs Barnes cannot be identified with confidence.

² As noted in the discussions at the British Medical Association (see reference in Dr Muir’s diary for 3 October 1923), mileage and capitation were key parts of the general practitioners’ contracts at this time.

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, who had been away from Selkirk for a long time since she and Dr Muir travelled south in July 1923.

⁴ Neither the mother nor the child is readily identifiable.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Quite a dry day + a lot of sunshine but with a very sharp N.E. wind. There has been some snow in the north. David¹ was away shooting. I cycled to Curror Street, Gib. + Lum², Bridge Street + Bank on to Ettrickbridgend to see Dav. Mitchell + his mother.³ Called for Mrs McGown⁴ but found the house shut. Found a message to Anderson, Heatherlie Park⁵ when I got home + then at 4.20 had to go to Sprot Homes.⁶ to see Miss Fraser.⁷ Went there + made a visit of 20 m. in 1h. 25m. i.e. I did the 12 miles in 1h. 10m. Letter from Helen.⁸

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² Gibson & Lumgair, St Mary’s Mill, Level Crossing Road, Selkirk.

³ Assume David Mitchell (1897-), recorded at Kirkhope in the 1921 Census, aged 23, a joiner, born Kirkhope, He was the son of Thomas Mitchell, joiner, and Jane Ross Mitchell née Little, married 1894 at Pettinain, South Lanarkshire. In the 1921 Census, David was recorded living with his aunt Sarah Mitchell (about 1843-1926) at Ettrickbridge.

⁴ Agnes Jane Macgown née Brown (1870-), widow of John Craig Macgown, surgeon, recorded in the 1921 Census as aged 51, born Galashiels, living at Grange Road, Newington, Edinburgh, with her son John Cecil Macgown (1896-), a medical student, born Millport, Bute. Jane was described as Proprietor / Occupier of Fairholme, Ettrickbridgend, Kirkhope, from the 1923 Valuation Roll, which Dr J S Muir notes, 2 May 1923 diary, had been recently sold to her [1923 Macgown, Agnes Jane, Valuation Rolls VR011700009-/426, Selkirk County, page 426 of 605].

⁵ A family named Brown lived at 4 Heatherlie Park, Selkirk in the early 1920s but is not possible to identity Mrs Anderson with any confidence.

⁶ Six almshouses at Lilliesleaf provided by the Miss Frances Sprot Trust endowed in 1881 by Miss Frances Sprot and formally known as the Miss Frances Sprot Homes.

⁷ Miss Fraser is so far unidentified.

⁸ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, who had been away from Selkirk for a long time since she and Dr Muir travelled south in July 1923.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Drizzling in the morning it fair in Edinburgh, coldish. Next to Edinburgh by 10.13. Mrs Mack + Erskine¹ travelled by same train. Took Jean² some flowers. Found her very well + busy as usual. Went to the Picture House for an hour + got some lunch + at 2.30 went with the S.R.P. + J.A. Sub-committee to a meeting with the Scottish Board of Health. Went back to the Picture House for a little + came out with the 6. There is evidently going to be some trouble over the mileage grant as well as the Capitation.³ Barbara⁴ called to say goodbye. She goes to London tomorrow en route for New Zealand.

¹ Dr Muir’s generous friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk and James Erskine Harper (1887-1953), her son.

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter. She had married, 15 June 1920 at Mayfield U.F. Church, Newington, Edinburgh, Frederick Charles Pike (d.1921), theatrical agent. Jean ran a tea shop in Newington after the First World War.

³ It is not easy to identify the various committees and sub-committees involved but the pressures on the budget of the insurance-based health system was described as “The Insurance Crisis” in the British Medical Journal. The gist of the debate (including some quite intemperate language) is published in an Editorial report dated 27 October 1923 [“The Insurance Crisis.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3278, 1923, pp. 771–72. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20434635. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.]

⁴ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), daughter of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir. At 21 she was leaving for what turned out to be a new life in New Zealand.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Another dry coldish day with a good deal of sunshine. N.W. [wind] David¹ was in Edinburgh + I was not out of the town. There was a message to Dav. Mitchell, Ettrickbridgend.² which Dav. did on his way [text illegible]. I banked over £263 pounds for M. & G.³ Had meeting of Cycle Club at night to arrange for a run on Monday next the Autumn holiday.⁴ Jock + Stewart⁵ called to say goodbye as they are off to school today.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² David Mitchell is probably the one recorded at Kirkhope in the 1921 Census, aged 23, a joiner, supposedly born Kirkhope, living with his aunt Sarah Mitchell (about 1843-1926) who died at Ettrickbridge.

³ Muir and Graham medical partnership.

⁴ The Selkirk Cycle Club had started earlier in 1923.

⁵ John ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950) and Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003). two of Dr Muir’s grandchildren.

The Editor apologises for how this post has appeared. Jetpack, the platform on which is posted is chronically unstable. I am looking for alternatives but in the meantime please be patient.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

No rain yesterday or today but cold N.W. wind : some sunshine. Message to Miss Colville, Beechwood.¹ Cycled to Hospital, Lower Faldonside (Roy Dees² at David’s request³), Upper Faldonside, where I vaccinated Ailie⁴, aft + then to Beechwood also Forest, Tweed + Ettrick mills.⁵ Sent off report on chronic case.⁶ Had a crowd in at night.⁷ At 5 David operated on the little girl Smart.⁸ Baptie⁹ pulled 14lbs of plums.

¹ Jemima Colville (1857-1932), ‘gentlewoman’, was recorded in the 1921 Census at Beechwood Villa, Selkirk, with a companion Naomi Thomson, two nurses Elsie Morrison Simpson and Margaret Henderson Sharp and two servants Charlotte C Rodgerson and Celia Annie [Armstrong ?], all living in.

² Robert Irwin Richardson ‘Roy’ Dees (1904-about 1988), son of Robert Irwin Dees and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson.

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

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

⁵ Part of what appears to be Dr Muir’s continuing role in factory health and safety.

⁶ See Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 September 1923.

⁷ For the evening consultation. This was evidently a new thing and Dr Muir frequently comments on the attendance.

⁸ Assume either Janet Cairns Smart (1912-) or Elizabeth Wood Smart (1915-), daughters of George Smart, woollen mill foreman, and Florence Ethel Robertson Smart née Lockie (see diary entry for 30 September 1923).

⁹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Felt quite fit but a little stiff. Found messages to several mills¹ + a message to Ailie Boyd² : also peremptory request for report on a case of chronic poisoning at Forest Mill which I had overlooked. Also request for information re Mrs Cook, Tait’s Hill³ from M.O. of Scott. R. N. Society.⁴ Saw only Geo. Smart’s little girl⁵ with suspicion of appendicitis. Mr Gallocher.⁶ Having by mistake sent my razor in the bag by post (which I won’t get till tomorrow) I went down to Wellwood⁷ + had a shave. Didn’t get to church. It was fair. Bella⁸ had got some most lovely roses in the garden.

¹ Dr Muir had at times previously been recorded as the local medical practitioner with responsibility for factories so perhaps he was still involved in 1923.

² Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Milne (1890-1955).

³ Presumably Mrs Jane Cook née Waldie (about 1870-), widow of David Cook, ploughman. A charwoman (school caretaker in 1921 Census), she was Tenant of a house at Tait’s Hill, Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/276, Selkirk Burgh, page 276 of 644].

⁴ The Editor assumes that this must mean Scottish R. N. Society (in which case Royal and Nursing are the obvious other words) but can find no evidence of such a society.

⁵ Assume either Janet Cairns Smart (1912-) or Elizabeth Wood Smart (1915-), daughters of George Smart, woollen mill foreman, and Florence Ethel Robertson Smart née Lockie.

⁶ Gallocher is unidentified.

⁷ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005).

⁸ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), the Muir family’s housekeeper ; born Ladykirk, the best match for Isabella’s death is Mar 1952, Paulin, Isabella, aged 82, Nthmbld N. 1b 338

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Went along + sent off my small bag by post. Got Scotsman + came back to breakfast. Cycled to Auchincruive + got the 9.37 to Mauchline.¹ There I had nearly an hour to wait. Went to the village + bought a handkerchief. Had to change again at Auchinleck² + got to Muirkirk at 11.15. Left 11.30 + came along well with a following wind. It was fair at first but mist on the hills. Got to Biggar at 2.45 + had lunch there. After leaving it began to drizzle heavily + I was very wet when I reached Peebles. Had to pump my back tyre several times. There must have been some very small punctures as I ran each time for 8-11 miles. Got home about 7.30. Met Jock³ near the Station + he pushed my bike up the O.B. Road.⁴ The run from Muirkirk was almost 70 miles + I averaged about 9.5 [miles] per hour.

¹ Auchincruive, East Ayrshire, NS382,235, and Mauchline, NS499,272.

² Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, NS549,220 and Muirkirk, NS696,274.

³ John ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), son of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir. John married, 5 February 1929, at Haslemere, St Bartholomew, Surrey, Elizabeth Helen ‘Betty’ Muir, daughter of William Edward Muir and Logie Elizabeth Muir née Whiteway, thus his second cousin, Dr J S Muir was one of the witnesses. Jock died in a climbing accident

⁴ It is not clear if Dr Muir used the train for the last part of the journey (the mileage suggests perhaps not) so it is likely that he travelled from Peebles to Selkirk via Caddonfoot and Linglie and then ascended to Ettrick Terrace via Old Bridge Road, before presumably crossing over to Halliday’s Park, Chapel Street and Scott’s Place and thus home.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Weather improved : gale has passed + it was fair without much sun except in forenoon. Packed + sent off my large bag by rail + called for Lizzie.¹ She wasn’t up + kept me waiting nearly 7 [?] hour + then walked slowly with me to the end of Esplanade. She is a little better but very fragile looking + not like going to London next week to Jean.² Left about 12 + cycled to Ayr, Culzean + Maybole.³ Stopped in a wood overlooking Culzean + ate a hunk of bannock. My gear wire broke on the outward run + I had to leave the bicycle at a shop in Main Street where is was repaired + sent along. Cathy⁴ called in the evening.

¹ Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858–1926), daughter of The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir, thus Dr Muir’s niece.

² Jean Frances Guthrie Smith, later Neal (1895-1949), daughter of John Guthrie Smith (1868-1923), W.S. and Lizzie Guthrie Smith (above). Jean had married in 1918 at Barnet, Middlesex, Lawrence Edward Neal (1895-1996), later Managing Director of Daniel Neal & Sons of Portman Square, London, a child-focussed department store.

³ Dr Muir travelled SSE from Monkton to Ayr, NS344,217, along the coast to Culzean, NS235,100, and turned inland to Maybole, NS297,100.

⁴ This may well refer to Catherine Isabel Guthrie Smith (1888–1962), daughter of John Guthrie Smith (1868-1923), W.S. and Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]