Author: rumblingclint

Letter from Mary¹ asking Helen² to go with me in July.³

Was up + down all night with Mrs W Emond (Agnes Tait), Southport + delivered her (Chloroform, forceps, stitches) of a son⁴ at 6.30 a.m. R.O.P.⁵ + one of the stiffest I ever had. She did well + was all right at night. It was a fine forenoon + I walked to Yarrow Terrace, Buccleuch Road, Forest Terrace, Tweed Mill +c. At 12 Fowler⁶ took Photos of staff at Viewfield⁷ with the sun making them all blink. A girl⁸ with a basal fracture of skull was brought in from St Mary’s Mill, a patient of Hiddleston.⁹ At 4.30 I had to motor (as it had begun to rain) to Ettrickbridgend to see a girl Lilly Hoggan¹⁰ at Fairholme.¹¹ Was very tired at night + went early to bed.

¹ Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister, widow of James Wallace (about 1841-1922) whose funeral Dr Muir had attended at Haslemere, Surrey on 10 July 1922.

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

³ Dr Muir has previously made references to planning a trip to Portsmouth. They appear to have travelled down to London together on Sunday 15^th July and overnight to 16^th when they travelled onwards to Guildford to be met by Mary.

⁴ The Editor is at a loss to explain what was supposed to be happening with Mrs Wm Emond, South Port whom Dr Muir had described as “on the straw but still in fine shape at 7 p.m.” in his diary entry of 27 April 1923 and whose son William Angus Emond was born the same day at South Port, Selkirk.

⁵ Right Occiput Posterior.

⁶ Fowler is unidentified.

⁷ Viewfield was the Muir & Graham medical practice’s nursing home.

⁸ The patient is as yet unidentified.

⁹ John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954), L.R.C.P.S., L.R.F.P.S., medical practitioner.

¹⁰ Dr Muir had referred to visiting the sister of Lillie Hoggan (1906-), a young woman Agnes Hoggan (1905-), on 29 April 1923. The sisters were two of the three boarders at Ettrick Bridge, Kirkhope in the 1921 Census, the other being Ella Babtie (1919-) – actually Helen Scott ‘Ella’ Baptie.

¹¹ Mrs Agnes Jane Macgown was Proprietor/Occupier of a house and garden Fairholme, Ettrickbridgend which does not appear to be the same location as that referred to on 29 April.

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

Heard Willow Wren¹ 2^nd at Upper Haining Loch : Saw Swallows Whitmuirhall 2^nd

A showery day but rather milder S.W. pretty wet in evening. Intended motoring to Craighill² but Mrs Emond seemed worse so Dav.³ did it as he was going to Mirelees⁴ : but Mrs E never came off.⁵ Saw a few town cases in Clifton Road (Mrs Macdonald) with floating kidney⁶, Forest Terrace, Cannon Street + Yarrow Terrace. Wrote Dora⁷. Paid Stark + Murray for Singer Bicycle.⁸ Wrote Nurse Jones who nursed Small pox here nearly 20 years ago + recently wrote asking about work + a house here.⁹

¹ Willow Wren or Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus.

² Dr Muir’s plan to go to Craighill, Ettrick, grid reference NGR NT259,145, had been foiled by rain on the two previous days.

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

⁴ Meerlees, Ettrick, grid reference NGR NT281,118, on the Eskdalemuir road.

⁵ It is not clear (yet?) what was supposed to be happening with Mrs Wm Emond, South Port whom Dr Muir described as “on the straw but still in fine shape at 7 p.m.” in his diary entry of 27 April 1923 and whose son William Angus Emond was born the same day at South Port, Selkirk. Dr Muir might reasonably have generalised concerns about Mrs Emond but here (as on 29 April) he is explicitly suggesting that the baby has not yet arrived.

⁶ Nephroptosis or floating kidney is “a condition in which the kidney descends more than two vertebral bodies or >5 cm during a position change from supine to upright [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5905778/]. There are plentiful references to the condition in the British Medical Journal throughout the first quarter or so of the 20th Century, including ‘Practical Pyelography’, a review of Alex. E Roche ‘Pyelography, Its History, Technique, Uses, And Dangers’ [“Practical Pyelography.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3489, 1927, pp. 940–940. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25326979. Accessed 30 Apr. 2023].

⁷ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

⁸ The Singer was Dr Muir’s new bicycle which had been sold to him by Stark & Murray in Selkirk.

⁹ Nurse Jones is (as yet) unidentified.

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

A fine day with a lot of sunshine up till 5 when it got cloudy. Wind slight N.W. to W. Breakfasted at 7 intending to go to Craighill¹ but at Heatherlie Met Dav. + Norah² motoring away to Edinburgh + so, fearing about Mrs William Emond, South Port³ might come off with both of us away, came home. Walked to Buccleuch Road + Green Terrace + went to morning service with Helen.⁴ After it walked to Curror Street + Hospital. Wrote Mrs Sprot⁵ at Eastbourne, + report on Agnes Huggan, Ettrickbridgend⁶.

¹ Dr Muir’s plan to go to Craighill, Ettrick, grid reference NGR NT259,145, had been foiled by rain the day before.

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner and his wife Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971).

³ It is not clear (yet?) what was supposed to be happening with Mrs Wm Emond, South Port whom Dr Muir described as “on the straw but still in fine shape at 7 p.m.” in his diary entry of 27 April 1923 and whose son William Angus Emond was born the same day at South Port, Selkirk. Dr Muir might reasonably have generalised concerns about Mrs Emond but here he is explicitly suggesting that the baby has not yet arrived.

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

⁵ Presumably one of the Sprots of Riddell, Lilliesleaf. It may become clear in due course to precisely whom Dr Muir is referring to here.

⁶ Agnes Hoggan (1905-) was one of three boarders at Ettrick Bridge, Kirkhope in the 1921 Census, the others being her sister Lillie Hoggan (1906-) and Ella Babtie (1919-) – actually Helen Scott ‘Ella’ Baptie.

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

Some white frost : fair in forenoon but showers of hail after, S.W. + N.W. Started to cycle to Ettrickbridgend + Craighill¹ but at the former it began to rain so I turned back. Spent the afternoon reading + arranging some accounts. Helen² walked to Middlestead³ + after dinner motored with Dav.⁴ to Smailholm Mains. He had previously been to Bewlie Mains by mistake.⁵

¹ Ettrickbridgend, Kirkhope, grid reference NGR NT388,243 and Craighill, Ettrick, NT259,145.

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

³ Middlestead, Selkirk, NT452,264.

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁵ This is a bizarre idea, with Bewlie Mains just outwith Lilliesleaf, south west of St Boswells, and Smailholm Mains just outwith Smailholm, north east of St Boswells. Nobody would simply mix them up, so there must be more to this story than meets the eye.

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

Brilliant morning + fine up till 5 when there were showers of hail + rain. Mrs Wm Emond, South Port¹ on the straw but still in fine shape at 7 p.m. Dav.² had a very protracted op. on Mrs Ramsay, Yarrow Terrace.³ He tried to do a [illegible] but the uterus was adhered + so had to do a Colporraphy.⁴ Mrs R was 2 hours under the anaesthetic. After tea cycled to Shawpark, Tweed Mill + Cannon Street. Helen⁵ + Nancy⁶ cycled to Howford + saw Netta Thomas.⁷ Letter from Dora.⁸

¹ William Angus Emond was born 27 April 1923 at South Port, Selkirk, the son of William Emond, woollen mill foreman, and Agnes Angus Hogg Emond née Tait, married 4 June 1920 at Innerleithen [1923, 778 / 31, Selkirk].

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

³ Presumably Margaret Hay or Simpson Ramsay, formerly Kirkland, formerly Graham, née Simpson (1866-1935), widowed power loom weaver who married Walter Ramsay (1867-1949), widower and woollen mill worker at 9 Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, 13 June 1912. He was at 36 Yarrow Terrace, Selkirk, 1921 Census and 1923 Valuation Roll but his wife was not recorded at home on Census Night 1921, instead she was recorded as a visitor of the Combe family at East Arthur Place, St Leonard, Newington, Edinburgh.

⁴ Colporrhaphy is a treatment for pelvic organ prolapse.

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

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

⁷ Netta Thomas is as yet unidentified.

⁸ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

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

Went to Edinburgh at 10.13, after calling for Mrs Addie, Buccleuch Road.¹ Walked out + saw Jean² + took her Dora’s photo.³ She was looking well. Came back by tram. Went to H. & A. K. Johnstone⁴ + ordered some ordnance maps of the Portsmouth district.⁵ Went to the new Picture House + saw a very good film ‘The Flame of ?” laid in the time of the 1^st [illegible].⁶ Branch Council meeting at 4.⁷ Nine present. Got out with the 6. A shower in Edinburgh but not cold. More rain here. Rivers swollen with yesterday’s snow.

¹ Presumably Jessie Love Addie (1895-1979), woollen farmer, born Tillycoultry, Clackmannanshire, in 1921 she was living with her family at Buccleuch Road, Selkirk and working as a Picker for Edward Gardiner & Sons. In 1923 she was recorded as Tenant Occupier of a house in Buccleuch Road, Selkirk [1923 VR007900012-/471, Selkirk Burgh, page 471 of 644]. In 1932 she married Peter Macintyre, formerly McGregor, and she died 24 December 1979 at the Cottage Hospital, Selkirk. Incidentally her elder sister May Addie was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter, living and working in Newington, Edinburgh.

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, living and working in Egypt, had sent photographs home.

⁴ W. & A.K. Johnston was one of the major map publishing houses of the 19^th century. William Johnston (1802-1888) and brother Alexander Keith Johnston (1804-1871) originally trained as engravers and founded the firm in 1826. Their offices were at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh New Town, with their printing based at the Edina Works, off Easter Road, but evidently they retailed other publishers’ mapping too.

⁵ There was evidently some sort of trip being planned.

⁶ The Editor cannot identify the film or the historical period referred to here. Ideas welcomed.

⁷ Meeting off the Branch Council of the British Medical Association.

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

It seems to make no difference where the wind blows from. It was S.W. + the ground was covered with snow this morning. It soon disappeared however before a brilliant sun. There was a little rain in the afternoon. I gave gas to Richardson, the policeman, at his house in Forest Road¹ when Dav. operated for fistula in ano.² Then at the home for a case of F. + C.³ I motored to Newtown to a meeting of the Div[ision]⁴ which was unusually well attended. McLagan of Duns⁵ left the Chair, which Fairfax⁶ took and Dixon⁷ was appointed Vice. I was reappointed Representative. Oliver⁸ resigned the Sec.ship + McWhan of Duns (M.O. for Berwickshire) was appointed.⁹ Got Dora’s photos¹⁰ from Edwards¹¹ for Mrs Mack¹², Jean¹³, Nancy¹⁴ + self.

¹ George Richardson (about 1889-), Police Constable, born in the United States he was recorded as tenant at 87 Forest Road in the 1921 Census and in the 1921 and 1922 Valuation Rolls.

² An expert reader has supplied a correction here. The text should read Fistula in ano – anal fistula – “A very painful condition” as the contributor notes.

³ Assume Chloroform and Forceps. The birth appears to have been that of Jane Christopherson Redpath Laidlaw (1923-1998), born 5.25 a.m. on 25 April 1923 at Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk.

⁴ The Division was a part of the British Medical Association area that covered Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

⁵ Patrick Alexander Maclagan (1877-1949), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and surgeon, at Ayton, later at Biggar.

⁶ Norman Pigott Fairfax (1867-1953), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner, born West Bromwich, married at Marylebone, Middlesex, living at Caddon View, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire at this time, he died in Edinburgh.

⁷ Assume Charles James Whitehead Dixon (1867-1925), M.D. Edin., Medical practitioner, of 19 North Bridge Street, Hawick. Born June Quarter 1867, East Ward Registration District (Appleby – 1871 Census), Westmorland, died 8 October 1925. Graduated from Edinburgh University in M.D. 1895, before moving to Hawick. He often wrote poetry under his middle names as ‘James Whitehead’. In about 1924, Dr. Andrew Simpson, a veteran of the Royal Scots in the First World War, took over the surgery.

⁸ Assume Matthew James Oliver (1863-1951), M.B., C.M., D.P.H., medical practitioner, Medical Officer of Health to Roxburgh & Selkirk County Council, at Hawthorndean, St Boswells, 1921 Census. Born Morebattle, he married June Quarter 1895, Kingston Registration District, Surrey, Isabella Graham Wardrop (Kingston 2a 561), and died January Quarter 1951 (Brighton Registration District 5h 251).

⁹ Andrew Alexander McWhan (1881-1952); MB; Ch B; DPH; medical practitioner, sometime School Medical Officer and Medical Officer of Health for Berwickshire (resigned February 1946). Son of the Reverend John McWhan, rector of Cambuslang School, and Maggie McWhan née Ross, married 17 June 1879, Paisley. Andrew McWhan, at that time resident of Cupar, married, 28 December 1909, the Windsor Hotel, Glasgow, Mary Forrest of Cambuslang.

¹⁰ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

¹¹ A R Edwards, photographers, probably the most technically gifted photographers in the area.

¹² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

¹³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter.

¹⁴ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

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

With little or nothing to do + the promise of a fine day I left at 11.15 – after seeing John Lothian, Hill Street¹ – + cycled to Galashiels + right up Gala Water + over to Arniston Lodge² 27 miles without dismounting. Turning off there I went a bye road over a height which took me down to the Temple road + I went on then past Gladhouse to the Peebles road above Eddleston³ + so home. There was very little wind first N. + then S. W. I got home at 7.15 having averaged (exclusive of stops) over 9 miles an hour. The distance was 65.1. My legs were a little stiff but I was not fatigued. I took my lunch near a farm called [blank space] with a fine view to the N.⁴

¹ John Lothian (1849-1924), stone mason, living at Hill Street, Selkirk with his second wife Helen Lothian née Kemp [1921 Census].

² Dr Muir’s description of his route is confusing but he appears to have ended up going past Arniston East Gate-Lodge, Borthwick Parish, grid reference NGR NT334,595 and Canmore ID 211449, travelling most directly from the main road (now the A7) but his description could also be thought to correspond with his passing Arniston West Lodge, Temple Parish, grid reference NT31969,59326 and Canmore ID 234632 (also one cannot strictly rule out the North Gate-lodge, Canmore ID 211442 and NT33667,61215 or the South Gate, Canmore ID 211452 and NT32772,58992, both Borthwick Parish, though the former doesn’t seem to fit Dr Muir’s description and the latter has a similar relationship with the road network as the East Gate, indeed on the most likely route Dr Muir would have had to have passed the East Gate to get to the South).

³ From Temple, parish, grid reference NGR NT316,587, Dr Muir ran past Gladhouse Reservoir at about NT289,538 to Waterheads, NT244,510, at which point he ran due south to Eddleston, NT242,471.

⁴ It is impossible to guess where this was but the best combination of hight, timing and direction points to somewhere on the Temple to Waterheads road (do not forget that Dr Muir did not dismount between Galashiels and Arniston Lodge).

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

Illusory hopes were raised this morning when the weathercock pointed towards to the W. of N.W. but the deceitful fowl soon rounded to its favourite N.E. There were slight showers of snow + a fairly heavy one at 7 which was immediately followed by sunshine. I walked to Kirkwynd +c Spion Kop¹, Hospital + Curror Street + then, as it looked like keeping fair, I cycled to Broadmeadows Cottage² + Yarrow Manse³ getting only a few flakes of snow.

¹ Spion Kop, Selkirk, where on dates including 3 July 1922 and 13 April 1923 Dr Muir had attended Mrs Margaret Kemp née Gibson (about 1858-1935), allegedly born Thornilee, Roxburgh. She lived at Spion Kop with four grown-up children Janet, Robert, James and John, all of whom worked in the textile industry, Janet for Edward Gardiner and the men for Gibson & Lumgair [1921 Census]. Margaret Kemp had been honoured as a “Special worker at work parties” when awards were made at the Victoria Hall of war service medals, see diary entry for 30 March 1922.

² John Brown, known as Scott (about 1877-1923), ploughman, had married Maggie Elizabeth Hawkins (1878-1933) on 10 June 1904 at the Manse, Lilliesleaf. Dr Muir had attended previously on 8 November 1922 and 7 April 1923.

³ Assume Yarrow Church of Scotland manse, proprietor occupier the Reverend Roger Sandilands Kirkpatrick (1859-1943), M.A. (Edin.). There was a Free Church manse at Yarrowfeus where the Reverend Malcolm Carment (1856-1936) was tenant occupier.

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

A better day with only one slight shower : as cold as ever but some sunshine N.E. Cycled to Haremoss, Green Terrace + Buccleuch Road + then to Mavisbank. Went to evening service : did some more route mapping. Miss Waugh¹ came to supper. Helen² lunched at Elmpark.³

¹ Nurse, more correctly Matron Waugh was Marion Gentleman Waugh (1877-), born Craigbank, Slamannan, Stirlingshire, the daughter of Allan Waugh, seed merchant, and Christina – sometimes Cristian – Turnbull Waugh née Dodds, married 1872 at Muiravonside. Matron Waugh and her mother were recorded at Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk in the 1921 Census.

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

³ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946).

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