Bright morning + a nice breezy dry day up till about 4 after which it was pretty wet. I had a fairly busy day. Wired Bousfield¹ for some more swabs. Walked to Buccleuch Road + Heather Mill where I took swabs from 28 workers in the Pattern Room. Then I cycled to Mill Street, Tait’s Hill, Rockville, Haining Stables, Green Square, Ettrickhaugh Cottages, Hospital + Goslaw Green. After lunch motored to Scaurneuk returning by Buccleuch Road (Mrs Hudson²) + Oakhurst³. Dav.⁴ came back at 6. The fish I bought yesterday turned out [illegible text]. At Scaurneuk I took 100ʒ of blood⁵ from John Geddes⁶.

¹ Assume Guy William John Bousfield (1893-1974), M.B, M.D., who in 1921 took over the Camberwell Research Laboratories established in 1891 by his father Edward Collins Bousfield (1855-1921), L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S, D.P.H., R.C.P.S., medical officer and bacteriologist, who had died in January 1921; in 1929 Bousfield was to publish ‘A Practical Guide To The Schick Test And Diphtheria And Scarlet Fever Immunisation’ [Sources: Statutory BMDs and Census; ‘G. W. J. Bousfield M.D.’, obituary, British Medical Journal, 14 September 1974; Wellcome Trust; London, England; Collection: The Medical Directory, 1910; Reference: b21330724_i13765826 and Wellcome Trust; London, England; Collection: The Medical Directory, 1942; Reference: b21330724_i13766405 the last two accessed 2021.08.03]

² Mrs Hudson, Buccleuch Road, is unidentified but John Hudson, roadman, was Tenant of a house 65 Buccleuch Road [1925 Valuation Roll, VR007900013-/106, Selkirk Burgh, page 106 of 315]

³ John S Nichol, mill manager, was Tenant of a house and garden Oakhurst, Viewfield Park, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Rolls VR007900012-/170, Selkirk Burgh, page 170 of 644]

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

⁵ The dram or drachm symbol ʒ is a unit mass or of volume in medicine

⁶ John Geddes, shepherd, to 1921 and Mrs Margaret Geddes née Graham (about 1855-1937), 1922 onwards, were Proprietor Occupiers of a house, Scaurneuk, Yarrowfeus, Yarrow [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

A very heavy shower at 10 prevented me cycling + I motored to Scaurneuk¹ + Bengerburnhope², but there was not another drop of rain + it turned out a fine day. I was very disgusted. Got home at 1.45 + was not out again. The Patons³ left today to finish their Collecting + return by rail. David⁴ went off to Liverpool at night for a patient for Viewfield. Arranged a lot of Insurance Records + went on with the mileage for David. Bought an 11 lb fish at 1/- a lb. Sent Mrs Mack⁵ a bit.

¹ John Geddes, shepherd, to 1921 and Mrs Margaret Geddes née Graham, 1922 onwards, were Proprietor Occupiers of a house, Scaurneuk, Yarrowfeus, Yarrow [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611]

² Assume Mountbengerhope, grid reference NGR NT303,274, the name of which Dr Muir appears to have conflated with Mountbengerburn a little to the south. Dr Muir had seen Jessie Welsh, the daughter of John Welsh on 23 August 1921

³ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁴ The Patons were Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census], formerly of Selkirk they had flitted to Galashiels in May 1918

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Mild calm sunless no rain but no drouth: very pleasant. Sun shone first before sunset. Feeling much better + enjoyed my meals. Letter from Guy¹ wanting to come next week to which I replied. The Patons² stayed on + completed their collecting. Gave boy Tulloch³ gas while Dav.⁴ extracted teeth. Cycled to Oakhurst, Curror Street, Faldonside (Low) + High. This was the anniversary of Phyllis Dees’ accident⁵ but it was not mentioned. Jessie⁶ has Ailie + Emma Boyd⁷ staying. Began to make out mileages for David.

¹ The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

² The Patons were Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census], formerly of Selkirk they had flitted to Galashiels in May 1918

³ The boy Tulloch is unidentified but Joseph Tulloch, cabinet maker, was at Market Place, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll]

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

⁵ Phyllis Mary Dees (1899-1920), the daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, had died 2 December 1920, at Faldonside, Melrose, aged 21, after a prolonged and distressing decline caused by a motor accident

⁶ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

⁷ Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne (1890-1955) and Emma Mary Brack Boyd (about 1870-1949)

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Dull morning but cleared up in afternoon. Had another miserable night with dyspepsia but got a little better by at night: took very little breakfast or lunch but more dinner. Was for fully 2 hours giving Chloroform to Wilfred Lees¹ at Viewfield while David² clamped the broken tibia. It was cleverly done + I hope will be successful as it was the first time D. had done it. In afternoon motored to Scaurneuk (Jo. Geddes³ a shock), Sundhope + Whitehope (to see Jessie Welsh⁴, daughter of Jo. Welsh⁵ of Bengerburnhope⁶). The Patons⁷, who were collecting for the Bible Society, stayed the night here. Dora⁸ was at the Picture House with Mrs Mack⁹.

¹ Wilfred Lees’ identity was finally revealed at the trial of Dugald Cowan Shankland (1870-1941), shipowner, for a motoring offence which was reported in the Southern Reporter of 15 December 1921; he was Wilfred Lees junior (1900-1942), a plumber, born Preston, Lancashire the son of Wilfred Lees and Alice Lees née Wilding who had married March Quarter 1890, and was on a motorbike holiday when a collision took place at Fairnilee with Shankland’s car, Lees died April Quarter 1942 but whether his injuries contributed to his relatively early death is not known [birth, Dec 1900, Preston 8e 521; parents’ marriage, Mar 1890, Preston 8e 716]

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

³ John Geddes, shepherd, to 1921 and Mrs Margaret Geddes née Graham (about 1855-1937), 1922 onwards, were Proprietor Occupiers of a house, Scaurneuk, Yarrowfeus, Yarrow [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611]

⁴ Jessie Welsh, later Murray (1906-1997), born Easter Essenside, Ashkirk, daughter of John Welsh, shepherd, and Jane Welsh née Inglis who had married 1903 at Wilton, Roxburghshire; at Broadmeadows around 1909-10, the family appear to have flitted to Yarrow around 1911, first at Old Tinnis, later at Mountbengerhope

⁵ John Welsh was Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Mount Bengerhope, Yarrow [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009- /337, Selkirk County, page 337 of 611]

⁶ Assume Mountbengerhope, grid reference NGR NT303,274, the name of which Dr Muir appears to have conflated with Mountbengerburn a little to the south

⁷ The Patons were Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census], formerly of Selkirk they had flitted to Galashiels in May 1918

⁸ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Foggy + damp but not so wet as yesterday. I had a very bad attack of Dyspepsia + would fain¹ have kept in the house but Dav.² wanted me to go to Hawick with Wilfred Lees³ to get his leg X rayed + after seeing some cases motoring I went to Hawick in the motor ambulance. It was very interesting to see the process + the apparatus of X ray work⁴. Boyack⁵ left this morning + Baptie⁶ took her down to the station.

¹ FAIN, adj.1, Sc. usages of Eng. fain. [fe:n Sc.], adj. 1. Glad, pleased; happy, content [Source: ‘Dictionars o the Scots Leid’]

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

³ Dugald Cowan Shankland (1870-1941), ship owner, and sometime of Whinfield, Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire had hit and injured a young man Wilfred Lees whilst driving at Fairnilea on 11 August 1921; Lees’ identity was finally revealed at the trial of Dugald Cowan Shankland for a motoring offence which was reported in the Southern Reporter of 15 December 1921, he was Wilfred Lees junior (1900-1942), a plumber, born Preston, Lancashire the son of Wilfred Lees and Alice Lees née Wilding who had married March Quarter 1890, and was on a motorbike holiday when a collision took place at Fairnilee with Shankland’s car, Lees died April Quarter 1942 but whether his injuries contributed to his relatively early death is not known [birth, Dec 1900, Preston 8e 521; parents’ marriage, Mar 1890, Preston 8e 716]

⁴ It is a measure of the pace of adoption of X rays (a technology that gained wide use during the First World War^*) in local medical practice that this was Dr Muir’s first experience of the equipment and process of X rays [^* Medical Applications of X Rays by Otha W Linton]

⁵ Miss Boyack was a friend of Dora Muir’s who stayed with the Muirs from 3rd to 31st August 1920; perhaps they knew one another from wartime nursing (she went on a number of Dr Muir’s calls and assisted on at least one occasion) but she is otherwise unidentified

⁶ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Incessant heavy rain from 9 a.m. t 6 p.m. + we congratulated ourselves on yesterday’s experiences. I saw 4 town cases + motored to Lilliesleaf where I forgot to see Mrs Bell¹ the policeman’s wife yesterday. Went to evening service with Dora² + Boyack³.

¹ Margaret Smith Bell née McFarlane, whose son Walter Anderson Bell was born 15 August 1921 at the Police Station House, Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire [1921, 795/ 9, Lilliesleaf]; she had married George Bell 29 November 1918 at Callander, Perthshire (presumably because he had survived military service in the Army Service Corps) and by 1921 George was Inhabitant Occupier of the Police Station House, Lilliesleaf [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011600033-/554, Roxburgh County, page 554 of 993]

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

³ Miss Boyack was a friend of Dora’s who had previously stayed with the Muirs from 3rd to 31st August 1920; perhaps they knew one another from wartime nursing (she went on a number of Dr Muir’s calls and assisted on at least one occasion) but she is otherwise unidentified

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

For the third consecutive time there was thick fog but the sun broke through early + it turned out a fine day though hazy. I cycled Kirkwynd, Forest Road, Sunderland Mill + Hospital. At 1.30 with Dora¹ + Boyack² I motored to Lilliesleaf + Chapel + then via Netherow, Denholm Bedrule + Chesters to a point about halfway to Mervinslaw³ where we stopped + had tea, overlooking the Jed valley with Carter beyond. Then we came back by Jedburgh + St Boswells. Kelty⁴ was with us. The views were much better than yesterday but not at their best.

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

² Miss Boyack was a friend of Dora Muir’s who stayed with the Muirs from 3rd to 31st August 1920; perhaps they knew one another from wartime nursing (she went on a number of Dr Muir’s calls and assisted on at least one occasion) but she is otherwise unidentified

³ Dr Muir must mean the road end at Chapel Farm, grid reference NGR NT543,256, which he would have passed as he travelled to Netherraw, NT554239, Denholm, Bedrule + Chesters and up to to a point about halfway to Mervinslaw – somewhere along the road that runs more or less ENE from Chesters through NT655,115

⁴ Kelty was a dog that Dr Muir records taking for a walk very infrequently since at least 1917 but either someone else must have been his regular walker or he was not their dog

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Another dense fog + the sun did not break through till 2 to be again obscured by mist about 7. I started after seeing Mrs Miller¹, Forest Road + Joan Scott², Mavisbank + cycled to Cessford³: leaving the main road at Ancrum House, I went up over Penielheugh by a road I hadn’t gone before: crossed to Crailing + on via Eckford. Took lunch at Cessford Castle + then went via Renniston + Oxnam to Camptown (also mostly new) + home va Chesters, Bonchester + Appletree Hall = 59 [miles] + with my morning work 60. It was fearfully hot + I was simply dripping with sweat. Hot bath + dinner put me right. Boyack⁴ arrived + she + Dora⁵ were down at Elmpark⁶.

¹ Margaret Miller, widow, was Tenant of a house at Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/171, Selkirk Burgh, page 171 of 644]

² Perhaps Jean Scott, widow, Tenant Occupier at 8a Mavisbank, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/182, Selkirk Burgh, page 182 of 644]

³ Dr Muir has done a clockwise loop leaving in an easterly direction to Penielheugh etc before heading south through Rennieston, grid reference NGR NT717,202, crossing the A68 at Camptown, NT679,135, and returning homewards in a more or less northerly direction via Bonchester Bridge

⁴ Miss Boyack was a friend of Dora Muir’s who stayed with the Muirs from 3rd to 31st August 1920; perhaps they knew one another from wartime nursing (she went on a number of Dr Muir’s calls and assisted on at least one occasion) but she is otherwise unidentified

⁵ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁶ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Misty morning but mild. It cleared up to a most lovely afternoon + evening with cloudless sky + hardly a breath of wind: at 10 there was full moon + I sat + smoked under the Rowan tree in my evening clothes + without a hat! I saw about a doz. cases + cycled down to Hospital where two fresh cases of Diph. were admitted. Dined with Mrs Scott Anderson¹ to keep McCall² company. Dav.³ was in Ed. [Edinburgh] making enquiries about … for Viewfield⁴.

¹ Joan Scott Anderson née Shaw (about 1857-1936), widow of T Scott Anderson and mother of Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Scott Anderson who married W H Ogilvie

² The Reverend, later Canon, James George McCall (1866-1954), sometime rector of St John’s Episcopal Church, Selkirk but was in the process of flitting at this point in 1921

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

⁴ Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Inclined to drizzle but no heavy rain except when I was at Sundhope. I never needed my cape . Message to see Mrs Barrie¹. Saw one or two more town cases + cycled to Sundhope (Mrs B, shingles), Sundhopeburn, Deuchar Mill, Harewoodglen (Miss Lang² out), Ettrickhaugh Cottages + Glebe Terrace, getting back at 3.30. Had my tea, washed the B.S.A. + changed. Had to go out before dinner to Heard³, Castle Street + Miller⁴, Forest Road. Dora⁵ went with Nancy⁶ to a gymkhana at Whitehill.

¹ Isabella Armstrong Barrie née Elliot, married 1891, wife of Walter Barrie, farmer and Tenant Occupier at Sundhope and Sundhopehead, Yarrow, 1921 Valuation Roll

² Miss Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), the daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham; a cyclist, she was Tenant Occupier of the mansion house, stable and grounds at Harewoodglen, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/326, Selkirk County, page 326 of 611]

³ Walter Heard, gardener was Tenant of a house at Castle Street, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/157, Selkirk Burgh, page 157 of 644]

⁴ Margaret Miller, widow, was Tenant of a house at Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/171, Selkirk Burgh, page 171 of 644]

⁵ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]