Mild windy wet! Rained the whole day without ceasing. Was not out of town. Assisted David at amputation of Jamie Douglas¹ remaining foot which was done under Special anaesthesia. It was wonderful to see the patient reading the Scotsman all the time. Boylan² called when I was beginning my lunch+ remained all afternoon + had tea with Helen³. He has sold Shawmount to Oliver⁴ + Shawpark + 51 acres to a man Beech⁴ from [illegible]. Helen + Nancy⁵ walked out to Slade⁶ to see the hunt.

¹ James Douglas is not identified

² John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, acquaintance of Dr Muir, sometime of Shawmount, Selkirk; that he stayed all afternoon fits with Dr Muir’s previous description of Boylan as a windbag “Boylan kept me a long time with his gassing” [diary entry 2 October 1915]

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁴ Shawmount appears to have been sold to James John Oliver, Jessie Aitchison Oliver and Jessie Murray Oliver, farmer [1923 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/427, Selkirk County, page 427 of 611]

⁵ The sale of Shawpark does not appear to have gone through as described [1923 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/427, Selkirk County, page 427 of 611]

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

⁷ Perhaps Whitslaid, Ashkirk which is now spelt Whitslade

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

Just a sensation of snow lying on the bare garden plots but not on the grass. Sharp N.W. wind but a drying one + sunny most of the day. Was twice at church + Helen¹ went with me this morning. The Musical Assoc. sang anthems + some things from [The] Messiah. Saw a few town cases only. Miss Dunn² not so well + her speech very bad. Helen went with Jack + Nancy³ to the [illegible] at Easter Lilliesleaf. Nancy, Barbara⁴, David, Norah⁵ + Mr West⁶ came to supper.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

² Hyndmer Rutherford ‘Miss’ Dunn (about 1843-1922), daughter of John Dunn, chemist & druggist, and Hyndmer Rutherford Dunn née Hewat, brother of Thomas ‘Tom’ Dunn (about 1844-1921); Tenant Occupier of a house at 13 High Street, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/113, Selkirk Burgh, page 113 of 644]

³ John ‘Jack’ Roberts and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir, Dr Muir’s son-in-law and daughter

⁴ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), daughter of ‘Jack’ and Nancy Roberts (above)

⁵ Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s co-partner, and Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971)

⁶ This almost certainly refers to Norah Campion Graham’s recently widowed father John Thomas West (about 1855-1942), whose wife Louisa Marion West née Drew (about 1861-1920) had died 13 November 1920

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

Sharp hoar frost: sunny morning + roads drying but it got colder + in the afternoon there were heavy blasts of rain + sleet + Foulshiels was white at 4. Cycled to Faldonside to see Jessie B¹. Met the Lauderdale hounds on their way to meet at Sunderland Hall. Jessie + I walked along to the point overlooking Tweed Bridge + saw the hunt going up + over Linglie Hill² + I saw the hounds again opposite Neidpath³ where I met Jack Lindsay⁴ on his way home. I saw a hound as far up as the Craig. Helen + Barbara⁵ walked to Linglie Hill + followed + Jack, Nancy + Tim⁶ were riding. I got a heavy shower just when I came to Mill Street.

¹ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

² Jessie Boyd and Dr Muir saw the hounds from the Tweed Bridge at the confluence of the Tweed and the Ettrick Water (grid reference NGR NT489,324) as the hunt crossed Linglie Hill on its way into the Yair Hill Forest

³ The hunt was later in the Yair Hill Forest, in the area between Yair and Ashiestiel on the west side of the River Tweed (the Craig presumably being Craig Hill) and opposite Neidpath Hill just south of Caddonfoot on the east side of the Tweed

⁴ John Vassie ‘Jack’ Lindsay junior (1891-1975), M.C., at this time farmer at Torwoodlee Mains, Caddonfoot [1921 Valuation Rolls, VR011700009-/306, Selkirk County, page 306 of 611]

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), her niece

⁶ John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their son George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

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

Most extraordinary meteorological conditions. Glass above the middle + rising. S.W. [wind] + yet dull + rainy. Message to Miss Kirkpatrick¹, Yarrow Manse. Motored there. Found her with a large Ventral hernia + asked her to come down to the Home to get it bandaged. Had to go to Yair in afternoon to see a child of Turnbull the keeper².

¹ Lilias (sometimes Lillias) Mary Kirkpatrick (1866-1950), sister of Roger Sandilands Kirkpatrick (1859-1943), M.A. (Edin.), Church of Scotland minister at Yarrow 1912 onwards

² Not identified but assume a child of James H Turnbull, gamekeeper and ‘Inhabitant Occupier not rated’ at Yair House stables, Caddonfoot [1921 Valuation Roll VR011700009-/306, Selkirk County, page 306 of 611]

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

This morning was still wet + blowy but got less so after midday. It remained dull however + there was no sunshine. Mild. Motored in the town + to Oakwood. Mr Linton¹ much better + down stairs. In afternoon went over to Viewfield + selected some instruments to show the class. Gave my last lecture on various points in the patient to be observed by the nurse such as the position + expression of the patient, cough, expectoration, faeces, urine, pulse +c. Showed them how to examine urine + test for albumen. Helen + Nancy² walked to Kirklea³ + back.

¹ Simon Linton (1836–1921), farmer, of Manor, Peeblesshire and latterly of Oakwood, Selkirk

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and he eldest daughter Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996)

³ Assume Kirklea, Ashkirk, home of William Henry ‘W H’ or ‘Will’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), poet, author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets and his wife Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Ogilvie née Scott Anderson (1879-1965)

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

What weather! Today there was another Sou’ Wester with drizzle + rain. After seeing Douglas Ballantyne¹ I walked with Nancy + Barbara² to Cauldshiels Hill³. The hurricane was with us going + actually helped us up hill but it was nice to get in the lee of the rocks. We hadn’t been there long till we saw the Hunt coming along the side of the Loch⁴ + we watched them a while + then went along to Bowden Moor cover⁵ where we saw them on Eildon + they came back + passed us quite close on their way to Rhymer’s Glen⁶ + Cauldshiels again. They had no run to speak of. It was a very disagreeable wet walk home.

¹ Douglas Ballantyne is not identified

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and he eldest daughter Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996)

³ Cauldshiels Hill, north east of Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT5155,3165

⁴ Cauldshiels Loch, a little to the north of Cauldshiels Hill

⁵ The cover seems most likely to be the the woodland east of Bowdenmoor Stell visible here Ordnance Survey 6″ Roxburghshire Sheet VII.SE, published 1899 but not indicated on the contemporary 1:50,000 Landranger Series

⁶ The Rhymer’s Glen runs in a northerly direction from Bowden Moor though grid reference NGR NT527,328 before debouching into the Huntly Burn

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

A good deal of rain last night + roads very wet but it was a fine + drying day + they improved. Sharp N. wind. I was able to cycle in the town + to Yair Cribs¹, Fairnilea [sic] Lodge² + Boleside³. After tea saw one or two more. David⁴ had an operation for appendicitis at Viewfield at 4.30. Helen⁵ cycled to Hawkshaw⁶ to call for Miss Scott⁷. Was in the Chair at a lecture in the Church by Dr Ewing on Allenby’s campaign in Palestine⁸.

¹ Shorthope Burn area, Yair, Caddonfoot

² Fairnilee, Caddonfoot; this lodge is not identified on the Ordnance Survey 25 inch but must be distinguished from the Bogle Lodge at the north west of the estate

³ Boleside, Galashiels, above the River Tweed opposite Faldonside

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

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

⁶ Hawkshaw, Kirkhope

⁷ Miss Scott is unidentified

⁸ The Reverend William Ewing (1857-1932), M.C., D.D., born Corsock, Dumfriesshire, sometime minister in Edinburgh, he had a mission to Tiberias, Palestine, 1888-1892 (his diaries for this period are in the Bodleian Library GB 161 MSS.Brit.Emp.s.382); appointed Chaplain to the Forces he was with the Palestinian campaign of Field Marshal Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby and, after the Armistice, became the Chaplain of St Andrew’s Church in Jerusalem and wrote a memoir ‘From Gallipoli to Bagdhad’

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

A nice day on the whole with just a threatening of drizzle about midday which prevented me cycling but need not have done so as it kept quite fair. Wind W. David¹ saw Douglas Ballantyne² with me + diagnosed “Dementia Praecox”³. + I saw Miss Martin⁴, Glebe Terrace at his request with well marked religious melancholia. Motored to Bowhill, Bluecairn + Oakwood. In the afternoon made out list of Panel Patients who have been attended this year. Helen went with Jack, Nancy + Barbara⁵ motoring to to the meet at Melking Minto + then via Belses⁶ to Cornhill + Melkington⁷.

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

² Douglas Ballantyne is not identified

³ The term used from 1896 to describe that condition which would later be known as schizophrenia

⁴ Miss Martin is unidentified

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and his eldest granddaughter respectively

⁶ Old Belses and New Belses, Ancrum, approximately centred on grid reference NGR NT571,250

⁷ Melkington, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, grid reference NGR NT873,411

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

Bright sunshine all day with a sharp N. wind: drying the roads: moonlight very clear. [like?] frost. Saw only 4 cases + gave Chlor[oform] at Viewfield for curetting Mrs Linton¹, Heathpark. Worked at books in afternoon + posted February [accounts]. Saw Douglas Ballantyne² in evening + supped at Wellwood³. Pretty little Peggy Lockie⁴ died in the evening. I saw her in the morning + noted a change for the worse.

¹ Assume Mrs Margaret Linton, widow of James Linton, Proprietor Occupier of a house ‘Heathview’, 34 Heath Park, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/142, Selkirk Burgh, page 142 of 644]

² Douglas Ballantyne is not identified

³ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s second daughter Nancy and her family

⁴ Margaret ‘Peggy’ Lockie (1903-1921), daughter of Walter Lockie and Margaret Lockie née Scott, a power loom weaver, of Forest Road, Selkirk, she died 20 March 1921 of pulmonary tuberculosis, aged 17, death certified by J S Muir M.B.

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

A fine day up till 2 O’Clock when it drizzled + rained on into night. I motored in the forenoon to Bowhill to see Lady Mary¹ + allowed her to hunt + then to Newark School and back to Yarrow Terrace, Glebe Terrace + Ashybank. Intended cycling to N Synton but the rain came in + I had to motor. Helen + Barbara² motored to the Meet at Lilliesleaf. David³ came back from London this morning + motored with Chas. Roberts⁴ to the International Rugby match at Ed.⁵

¹ Lady Mary Theresa Montagu Douglas Scott, later Cecil (1904-1984)

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and his eldest granddaughter respectively

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

⁴ Assume Charles Henry ‘Charlie‘ Roberts (1877-), tweed manufacturer

⁵ Scotland v England Five Nations match at Inverleith, Edinburgh, 19 March 1921

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