Delightful day: no more rain + yesterday’s has made little or no impression. The pastures up Yarrow are burned brown + the only green on the hills is the bracken. After seeing a few town cases I cycled to Beechwood + Scaurneuk. Mrs Geddes¹ [?] has symptoms of gastric tumour. There was a slight west wind. Alf. Yellowlees youngest child² died. Mrs Grieve (Lilly Linton)³ + her husband called with their children⁴, one of whom had an eruption on the back. Baptie⁵ went to Gala + met the Logans⁶. It was nice seeing them again. David⁷ went to Ed. [Edinburgh] in the evening to see Norah⁸. Tonic wines from Godfree⁹ arrived + there was a bottle of Port short.

¹ Geddes Scaurneuk, Yarrow, 1921 John Geddes, shepherd, 1922 onwards then, Mrs Margaret Geddes née Graham (about 1855-), were Proprietor Occupiers of a house, Scaurneuk, Yarrowfeus, Yarrow [1922, VR011700009- ] = John died 29 August 1921, at Scaurneuk, Yarrow, aged 78; she was born about 1855, supposedly at Libberton, Lanarks, and died 1937 at Dunsyre, Lanarkshire 78 [1921, 779/1 2, Yarrow]

² Elise Irene Yellowlees, died 7 July 1921, at Whinfield,, Selkirk, aged 1 year 8 months, of “Acute Intussusception 24 hours” certified by D Charteris Graham M.B., Ch.B.; she was the daughter of Alfred George Yellowlees, timber merchant, and Helen Violet Yellowlees née Dunn [1921, 778/ 51, Selkirk]

³ Lillias ‘Lilly’ Grieve née Linton (1877-1957) and her husband William Grieve, farmer, of Rawburn, Duns; she was the daughter of Simon Linton,

⁴ The two children were Lillias Linton Grieve (1918-2011) and Christian Glendinning Grieve (1919-1981), daughter and son of William Grieve, farmer, of Rawburn, Duns, and Lillias Lilly Grieve née Linton, married 11 April 1916, Manor Parish, Peeblesshire

⁵ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁶ The Logans were Agnes McIver Logan (about 1848-1928) and Margaret Jane Muir ‘Maggie’ Logan (about 1854-1926), daughters of Alexander Stuart Logan, advocate & Sheriff of Forfarshire and Agnes Logan née Greig, thus Dr Muir’s cousins; both died Logie, Stirlingshire

⁷ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁸ Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner

⁹ Godfree has not been identified

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

A dull pleasant day with a few drops of rain in the morning + a shower from 3 to 5 but not enough. First rain of any consequence since June 8^th. I [illegible] Robert Tait¹, Goslaw Green, before he went off to the Deaconess Hospital². David³ came in at 10 + we went over all the cases +c. I cycled out to Sprot Homes⁴ + then ran round by Clarilaw + Bowden Toll to Lindean + Bridgelands. I was pretty hot when I got home but there was not a burning sun like some days lately.

¹ Robert Tait, powerloom tuner, was tenant at No. 1 Goslaw Green [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/224, Selkirk Burgh, page 224 of 644]

² In 1888 the Very Reverend Professor A H Charteris sought and was given the approval of the General Assembly for a scheme for the organisation of women’s work in the Church. The Deaconess Hospital was opened in 1894 as the second building for his project, providing practical training in nursing for Deaconesses, each of whom spent a year there as part of her training, and they could if they chose become fully qualified nurses through a further three years in the hospital’s Nurses’ Training School [Source: Lothian Hospital Histories Deaconess Hospital accessed 9 June 2021]

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

⁴ Sprot Homes refers to the homes provided at Lilliesleaf by the Miss Frances Sprot Trust

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

A terribly hot forenoon with a change of wind to N.W. + then W. Rather cooler in afternoon. Was knocked up at 5 a.m. for Robert Tait¹, Goslaw Green with retention. He had been using a gum elastic Catheter + made false passage + I failed in passing a catheter. Went along at 10 + aspirated. Cycled to Whinfield, Bridgelands + Hospital + felt very fagged having had a very bad dyspeptic attack during the night. I could hardly take any tea. We had our first dish of strawberries + I sent some to Mrs Mack². David³ came back tonight demobilised. He saw Tait with me + drew off the urine with one of our aspiration hoses.

¹ Robert Tait, powerloom tuner, was tenant at No. 1 Goslaw Green [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/224, Selkirk Burgh, page 224 of 644]

² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner had been mobilised prior to 15 April 1921 as tension grew in anticipation of strike action in support of the miners by transport and rail unions and, though though they finally announced a decision not to act in solidarity, some mobilisation continued

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

Exactly the same weather: dull + cold till about noon + after that clear sky and brilliant sunshine but with the sharp N.E. + E. wind. I was very busy from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m. with ³/₄ of an hour for tea. Saw some 23 patients in town + Ettrickhaugh besides Bridgelands + Bowhill. Had to arrange for Miss Davidson¹ to leave Viewfield² as she is getting suicidal. ‘Phoned D.³ to meet her in Edinburgh + take her to Saughton⁴. Mrs Mack⁵ took Dora⁶ + Crissie⁷ to the Picture House.

¹ Miss Davidson is not (yet) identified

² Viewfield was the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s new (opened 4 June 1920) surgery and cottage hospital

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

⁴ Mavisbank House near Loanhead, Midlothian, converted in 1876 into a lunatic asylum and renamed New Saughton Hall in recognition of the asylum’s previous site at Saughtonhall, Gorgie, where Saughton Park is today

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁶ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁷ Christina Robertson Rodger ‘Christy’ or ‘Chrissie’ Patrick (1891-1960), daughter of Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger and David Patrick, solicitor, of Hamilton

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

Dull + sunless up till midday and a brilliant day after. Warm in sun. Cool E. wind. Was called up at 2 for Mrs Alex Harper¹, Kirkwynd who had a d [daughter] before I arrived. Got back to bed at 3 + had to rise at 5 to relieve Jamie Orr², Dovecot. Was late with breakfast. Had a town list walking. Message to Hislop³, 110 Forest Road + after I had done my round had to go to Marshall⁴, 110 Forest Road case of Scarlet. Had quiet afternoon + filled up the new leaf day book + ledger for July⁵. I think it will be very handy if one were into the way of it. Went to evening service. Mrs Mack⁶ at supper. Read some extracts from my diary of /68⁷.

¹ Esther Ramsay Harper, born 3 July 1921 at 31 Kirkwynd, Selkirk; she was the daughter of Alexander Harper, woollen millworker, and Esther Harper née Ramsay, married 8 March 1912

² James Kennedy ‘Jamie’ Orr (about 1845-1924), tailor, husband of Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Chisholm (about 1847-1926) and resident at 9 Dovecot Cottages, Selkirk, 1911 Census

³ William Hislop, mill warper, was Tenant Occupier of a house (no garden) at 110 Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/165, Selkirk Burgh, page 165 of 644]

⁴ James Marshall, tuner, was Tenant Occupier of a house and garden at 110 Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/165, Selkirk Burgh, page 165 of 644]

⁵ This was not the start of Dr Muir’s move to modern record-keeping and accounting systems defined as “… order and billing systems , indexes, ledgers or any form of original or final record where a loose-leaf, or detached, or detachable documents are used in lieu of the same information in a bound book” because he had moved to index cards for patient records from about 1915; the pressure of a large number of patients signed up under the National Insurance Act 1911 may partly have driven the change, as may the greater need for accountability and information sharing demanded by a formal co-partnership [see Wootton, Charles W., and Carel M. Wolk. “The Evolution and Acceptance of the Loose-Leaf Accounting System, 1885-1935.” Technology and Culture, vol. 41, no. 1, 2000, pp. 80–98. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25147454. Accessed 29 June 2021.]

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

⁷ This comment tantalisingly suggests that Dr Muir kept a journal throughout his time at Selkirk but it seems that only the diaries for 1891, 1899-1925 and 1927-1938 have survived

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

A pretty busy day. Weather like yesterday. A little dull in afternoon. Banked £180 odd for M + G.¹ + cashed some Divies [?] for myself. Cycled to Curror Street, Hospital +c + Heatherlie + saw 13 cases + then went on to Sprot Homes² + Lilliesleaf where at 2.30 I got an urgent ‘Phone to Snowie³, Middlestead, who left the Home today. Cycled there in 40 minutes + found her very ill. Came home + motored back + gave a hypo of Morph for severe pain in right side. Had tea at Heatherlie Hill⁴ where they were having golf croquet + then went to Curror Street to see Millar⁵ who is dying with uraemia. Called at Viewfield for Miss Davidson⁶ + then went back to Middlestead + gave digitalis hypo.

¹ The Muir and Graham medical co-partnership

² Sprot Homes refers to the homes provided at Lilliesleaf by the Miss Frances Sprot Trust

³ Helen Wood Snowie, daughter of Alexander Helen Wood Snowie, ploughman, and Elizabeth Swan Snowie née Ruckbie; he was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house at Middlestead, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/327, Selkirk County, page 327 of 611]

⁴ Heatherlie Hill was the home of John Pollok (1858-1938), Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012 …]

⁵ James Millar, woollen pattern weaver, unmarried, died 2 July 1921, aged 58, at 39a Curror Street, Selkirk (the home of Thomas Millar, millworker), usual residence Pink Bank, Walkerburn, of Chronic Nephritis, death certified by J S Muir M.B. etc

⁶ Miss Davidson is not (yet) identified

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

Cool E wind + continuous sunshine. Terrible drought. Not much in town, 7 or 8 cases. Miss Davidson¹, Viewfield not so well. Cycled to Forest Road, Heatherlie, Yarrow Terrace, Howford², Woodend³, Hyndhope⁴ + Delorainehope⁵ which took me till 5.20. Had drink of milk at Woodend + Delorainehope. Very hot walking up the burn. I enjoyed my dinner. Helen⁶ left with Peter⁷ + motored to Carlisle. Dora⁸ + Chrissie⁹ were down at Elmpark¹⁰ in the evening + I went down for them.

¹ Miss Davidson is not (yet) identified

² Howford, Kirkhope, grid reference NGR NT392,244

³ Woodend, Ettrickbridge, Kirkhope, NT389,245

⁴ Hyndhope, Kirkhope, NT366,210

⁵ Delorainehope, Kirkhope, NT341,187

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s housekeeper and third daughter

⁷ Peter Allan is not (yet) identified

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

⁹ Christina Robertson Rodger ‘Christy’ or ‘Chrissie’ Patrick (1891-1960), daughter of Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger and David Patrick, solicitor, of Hamilton

¹⁰ Elm Park was the 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]

Dull + rather chilly with an E. wind till 2 when the sun broke through + it was a delightful afternoon + evening. I had hoped to go into town to see Pike¹ and attend the annual meeting of the branch² but after seeing 9 or 10 cases + got about midday message to Broadmeadows + Faldonside I saw it was impossible. I cycled first to see a girl Inch³ + after tea to Faldonside + there were a lot of people in at night. Cycled 23 miles.

¹ Frederick Charles Pike (1883-1921), theatrical agent, who married Dr Muir’s daughter Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir in 1920 but was very ill by this time

² The Edinburgh Branch of the British Medical Association

³ Not identified

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

Fine day. Dull at first then sunny + warm: delightful cool N.E. breeze which became rather chilly at night. Fairly busy day. Had to see Mrs Walt. Hope¹ twice with a [illegible] sacral abscess. Saw 9 town cases walking + cycled to Hospital² (where a little girl with Dip., who came in on Monday, died³), Dunsdale Gas Works (case of Scarlet), + Bluecairn. After dinner had to go down to Sloethornbank to Mrs T. Scott⁴ who had a strangulated hernia which I reduced under Chlor[oform]. H⁵ + Peter⁶ dined at Elmpark⁷. Got letters from John Moir⁸ + John McDougal⁹.

¹ Assume Helen Hope née Amos of Phenzhopehaugh, Ettrick

² The Infectious Diseases Hospital (19th-20th Century), was at Buxton, grid reference NGR NT48515,28659, just east of Ashburn and Buxton Cottage at the north end of the Selkirk Hills, see Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire sheet XII.NW, revised 1930 [Source: Canmore ID 353686 Canmore Permalink]

³ Jane Riddell, died 29 June 1921, aged 2 years 5 months, of “Diphtheria 9 days” at the Infectious Diseases Hospital; she was the daughter of James Riddell, woollen millworker, and Annie Riddell née Stewart and lived at Inglis Close, Selkirk [Statutory registers Deaths 778/ 46]

⁴ Thomas Scott, millworker, was a tenant at Sloethornbank, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/184, Selkirk Burgh, page 184 of 644]

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

⁶ Peter Allan is not (yet) identified

⁷ Elmpark, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

⁸ John Wilson Moir (1843-1926), M.D., medical practitioner, sometime of St Andrew’s, Fife, see also diary entries for 24 and 26 June 1921

⁹ Dr John McDougal was one of Dr Muir’s oldest friends, see also diary entries for 24 and 26 June 1921

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

Much warmer today. S. + then N. just slight. David¹ left for Ed. [Edinburgh] this morning, I hope for the last time² + he went first to Thirlestane Police Station³ + on by Innerleithen. There were several messages in a rather annoying sequence 1^st Bartie⁴, Ettrickhaugh Road: 2^nd Weir, Gas Works 3^[rd] a man at Purves’, Forest Road⁵ all of which I had to do separately. After dinner I saw Mr Lawson⁶, Knowepark who had had some vomiting. There were about a doz. people in at night. Dora⁷, Chrissie⁸ + Peter⁹ in the motor + Helen¹⁰ cycling went up to the riverside at Howford¹¹ + had tea + the girls walked to Hawkshaw¹² + called for Anna Scott¹³.

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

² Dr Graham had been mobilised prior to the decision, on 15 April 1921, of the transport and rail unions not to call for strike action in support of the miners in their fight against post-war re-adjustment to their terms of employment thereby leaving, as History Today states, “the miners to fight on alone for three months, until they were driven back on worse terms than they could have had at the start.”

³ Attendance at Thirlestane Police Station implies a visit to William Wight, Police Constable, and his wife Sarah Jane Forrest Wight née Anderson; they had married 6 December 1912 at Selkirk Manse and are referred to again by Dr Muir in his July diary entries

⁴ Margaret Lillias Bartie née Hay and her husband James Bartie, chartered engineer had died in 1918 and early 1921 respectively so the most likely person to have been at Alva Cottage at this time was their son and executor Thomas Bartie, factor, of Chapel Acre, Dundas, South Queensferry

⁵ This may refer to Mrs Jane Purves, Tenant Occupier at 69 Forest Road, Selkirk or to Mrs Barbara Purves, Tenant Occupier at 113 Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Rolls, VR007900012/164, Selkirk Burgh, page 164 of 644 and VR007900012/166, Selkirk Burgh, page 166 of 644 respectively]

⁶ Mrs Cecil Lawson née Mackinlay (about 1837-1922) was Proprietor Occupier of Knowepark, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012- …]

⁷ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁸ Christina Robertson Rodger ‘Christy’ or ‘Chrissie’ Patrick (1891-1960), daughter of Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger (c.1846-1924), daughter of Peter Rodger (1804-1888), of Selkirk, solicitor and local government official, and David Patrick, solicitor, of Hamilton

⁹ Peter Allan is not (yet) identified

¹⁰ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s housekeeper third daughter

¹¹ Howford, Kirkhope, grid reference NGR NT392,244

¹² Hawkshaw, Kirkhope, NGR NT376,242

¹³ Anna Scott is not identified

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