Some snow lying on Tennis Green this morning + on Peat Law¹. The former soon disappeared. Curiously there was none on Bowling Green. I was not out of town. Saw some 13 cases. Saw John Gray², Mavisbank 2x. Wrote Miss Lockhart³. Paid Muir’s & Graham’s account to Walt. Dobson⁴ + Mrs Geo. Thomson⁵. Got on with posting of December into Ledger. Helen went with Mrs Mack⁶ to a performance of “Eliza Comes to Stay”⁷ in Victoria Hall. Got letter from Lizzie Guthrie Smith⁸ yesterday.

¹ Peat Law, WNW of Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT443,307

² Assume John Muir Gray (1915-1984), son of Andrew Gray, weaver, and Margaret Tully Gray née Falside; he was born at Curror Street but the family was living at 7a Mavisbank, Selkirk in 1920

³ Not identified

⁴ Assume Walter Dalgleish Dobson (1861-1936), master tailor

⁵ Not identified

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

⁷ ‘Eliza Comes to Stay, A Farce in Three Acts’, 1913, by Henry Vernon Esmond (1869-1922), British actor and playwright; it was later a film

⁸ Assume Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858–1926), Dr Muir’s niece

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

It has been decided to post occasional extracts from Dr Muir’s diaries for other years; the following is from 1913, the current focus for transcription in addition to 1921.

Continuous fall of fine snow. Much calmer: N.E. by E. [wind]. Fresh. There are quite 6 or 7 in[ches] of undrifted snow. Took the Mocar¹ in case of drifts but there were none up Yarrow. Walked down to Ross², Viewfield Park + Wellwood where Baptie³ picked me up + I went via Heath..ly to Yarrowford to see Jas. Hewie⁴ + back by Buccleuch Road to Bridgelands where I saw Geo. + Hilda⁵. Was in house after two. Sent away Factory + P.O. Reports⁶ + arranged accounts. Wrote Croom⁷ about Dora⁸. Wrote L + B⁹ re Robert Blyth¹⁰ + Mrs Sprot regretting inability to attend Coo’s wedding¹¹ on Feb 3^rd. Nancy¹² came to supper.

¹ The Mo-Car Syndicate, which became the Arrol-Johnston Car Company Ltd. from 1905, was a joint venture between George Johnston, locomotive engineer, Sir William Arrol MP, engineer and others (and later William Beardmore) and produced a ‘dogcart’ with transverse seats back-to-back; it may have been the Mo-car’s larger wheels in particular that appealed to Dr Muir for this snowy journey

² Sinclair Ross (about 1870-1948), Caithness born solicitor, was long-time proprietor at Glenlora, Viewfield Park, Selkirk [Valuation Rolls]

³ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁴ James Hewie, retired sub-postmaster, and his wife Jane ‘Jeanie’ Gray were Tenant Occupiers of a house at Yarrowford, Yarrow, 1921 Valuation Roll

⁵ George Frederick Eck Rodger (1873-1956) and Hilda Rodger née Seebohm (1874-1961), married December Quarter 1903, Bucklow, Cheshire, Registration District 8a 298; he was sometime proprietor of Bridgelands, Selkirk but more probably visiting at this date

⁶ The Editor assumes this refers to Dr Muir’s roles as Medical Officer for Selkirk Burgh and Prison

⁷ Assume John Halliday Croom (1847-1923), FRSE PRCPE PRCSE, Scottish surgeon and medical author, who in 1905 succeeded Sir Alexander Russell Simpson to the Edinburgh University chair of midwifery; the originator of clinical teaching in the Maternity Hospital he also ran a private general and gynaecological practice [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-mmm/mmm/21/3 and Wikipedia]

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

⁹ It is not immediately clear to whom Dr Muir would have been writing in relation to the death of Robert Blyth, see footnote 10

¹⁰ Robert Blyth, basket maker, had died 29 December 1912, aged 46, at the Combination Poorhouse, Galashiels; his death was certified by Henry Drummond Robb (1883-1970), M.D. who was Dr Muir’s locum around this time

¹¹ Gertrude Gladys Violet Sprot (1888-1966), born Riddell, Lilliesleaf, daughter of Lieutenant-General John Sprot and Charlotte Gertrude Sprot née Cole, married Edward Arthur Wienholt (d.1927) March Quarter 1913 at St George Hanover Square 1a 878

¹² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]

Much nicer day. Almost no rain [?] + sunny in forenoon. W. [wind]. Left at 9.15 + motored to Cramalt to see Jas. Hogg¹. Called for Mrs Simpson², Backrow + Rae [?]³, Heatherlie + looked in on Dav. who is keeping better. Took the Straker Squire⁴ + made a good run. Megget + Yarrow hills white on tops. Got back at 12 + at the Home gave a boy Wood chlor[oform] while D. excised a tuberculous cervical gland. Then I motored to Byethorn, Elm Cottage, Mavisbank, Spion Kop, Bridgelands, Lindean Mill, Eastfield + Lilliesleaf. At night D. operated for strangulated hernia on Emmett⁵ the odd man from Bowhill + I had to go to see J S Gray⁶, Mavisbank, late for a convulsion. So I had a pretty busy day: It rained at night.

¹ John Hogg (fl.1920), occupier, house at East Cramalt, Yarrow, 1920 Valuation Roll (see also Ordnance Survey 6” Selkirkshire Sheet XIII.NW, 1897 / 1900)

² James Simpson, spinner, was Tenant Occupier of a house at 66 Back Row, Selkirk, 1921 Valuation Roll

³ There is a number of Rae entries at Heatherlie, 1921 Valuation Roll

⁴ Straker Squire or Straker-Squire Ltd., also Brazil, Straker (1901-1927), motor manufacturer, see https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Straker-Squire

⁵ This is almost certainly William George Emmett (1871-1946), oddman, not identified at Bowhill but he died in retirement, October 1946, at Dumfries Infirmary, usual residence Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire; he was born in Wiltshire

⁶ Assume John Muir Gray (1915-1984), son of Andrew Gray, weaver, and Margaret Tully Gray née Falside; he was born at Curror Street but the family was living at 7a Mavisbank, Selkirk in 1920

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

Was knocked up at 3 a.m. for Jamie Orr with retention + then at 6.15 by David (who was sent up for Mrs Robert Tait¹, Howford Cottage. Motored up (taking her sister Ellen² who is cook at Mauldsheugh) but after staying a while + getting some breakfast, came home. Called for D.³ Got several messages. Motored to Philiphaugh Cottages, Corbie Cottage, Heatherlie, Mavisbank + Elmrow. They sent again from Howford at 2 + I went up taking nurse McDougall.⁴ Got it over at 3.30⁵. Brought Ellen back + the two youngest kids Mima + Peggy⁶ to Mauldsheugh. Went over to Viewfield + saw the cases there. Crowd in at night. A day of incessant heavy rain + colder: snow on the hills. River on top flood. Helen⁷ at Viewfield for supper + bridge.

¹ Robert Tait, ploughman and husband of Agnes Doherty or Docherty, was Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Howford, Kirkhope, 1920 Valuation Roll

² Helen ‘Ellen’ Doherty or Docherty [Dohorty on 1901 Census] (born Stow, 1893) and her sister Agnes, later Tait (born Lauder, 1887) were daughters of William Doherty, a cattleman from “Londonderry, Ireland” and Margaret or Margret Doherty née McGlein or McGlain, married 1879 at Ladhope [776/B 28, Ladhope]

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

⁴ Nurse McDougal is presumably Mary Robertson Hawkins McDougall (1896-), District Nurse, born High Buckholmside, Galashiels but in 1921 recorded as staying at the Police Station at Yarrow [1921 Census].

⁵ Helen Tait, born 10 January 1921 at Howford, Kirkhope, daughter of Robert Tait, ploughman, and Agnes Tait née Doherty, they had married 2 June 1911 at Stow [birth 776/ 2 Kirkhope]

⁶ Jemima Isabel ‘Mima’ Tait (1917-1990), born Cortleferry, Stow and Margaret ‘Peggy’ Tait (1919-1999), born Philiphaugh Old Mill, Selkirk

⁷ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

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

Same dull mild wet weather. Strongish W. wind. Message to see Mrs Guthrie’s boy¹, Lilliesleaf. Motored there + saw some other cases in the village + went to Lindores² , Hermiston, a place I haven’t been at for years. Got home at 1 + walked down to Curror Street + Raeburn Meadows. Was not out after lunch. Got the books up to date. Made out mileage cards + Factory Report³ . Helen was at Elmpark for tea + went to evening service.

¹ Not identified

² Alexander Lindores was Inhabitant Occupier of a house ‘Hermiston’ at Lilliesleaf, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ One of Dr Muir’s duties as Medical Officer of Health was factory safety

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

Mild + damp + blowy, drizzling towards evening: roads filthy. Message to see Joyce¹ at Faldonside. Motored there, Lindean Mill + Bridgelands: Saw a few town cases + at 2.30 at Viewfield gave Chlor[oform] while Dav. operated, first on Mrs Jean Thomson + then on Willie Simpson² for hernia. Pussy Stewart³ came at 4 + operated on And. Cowan⁴, dividing certain nerves. I had a letter from Willie Rodger⁵ from Argentina with some photos. I find that nurse Smith who has been doing night duty at Viewfield comes from Leigh⁶ + knows Jim Hayes⁷.

¹ Assume Edith Joyce Dees, later Beath (1908-1995), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson

² Neither Jean Thomson nor Willie Simpson can be readily identified

³ William James ‘Pussy’ Stuart (1873-1959), C.B.E., M.B., F.R.C.S.Ed., medical practitioner, consultant surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and sometime president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Born 17 December 1873, at 7 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh (but not registered until 6 March 1874), the son of the Reverend Doctor John Stuart, Minister of St Andrew’s Parish, Edinburgh, and Jessie Stuart née Duncan, married 14 May 1867 at Edinburgh.
Sources: Statutory BMDs; the British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 5122, 1959, pp. 652–652. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25386853 http://www.jstor.org/stable/25386853. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.

⁴ Andrew Cowan, shepherd at Kirkhope or Andrew Cowan, farmer at Dryden, Ashkirk, see also diary entry for 2 November 1920

⁵ Perhaps William Brydone ‘Willie’ Rodger (1880-1959), son of George Rodger (about 1843-1885), solicitor, and Isabella Margaret or Maggie Rodger née Brydone; born 27 Dec 1880, Selkirk, he was later a stockbroker and was at Sevenoaks, Kent, 1911 Census

⁶ Leigh, Lancashire

⁷ James ‘Jim’ Hayes (1866-1939), medical practitioner, son-in-law of Alexander Muir, married to Jessie Geddes Hayes née Muir; born Leigh, Lancashire, they lived at 2 Church Street, Pennington, Leigh, 1891 Census and at Stone House, Leigh, 1901 and 1911

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

Rather colder but still mild, damp + misty on hills: no rain. Did a walk to Bank Street, Forest Road, Wellwood, Lindean Mill, Lindean Shepheard’s House back across country to Bridgelands + home + later to Forest Road + Bridge Street. David not feeling very well in afternoon. Got a present of a pair of leather lined motoring gloves from Madge Ogilvie which belonged to her father¹ but which he had never worn. Sent her a rhyming acknowledgment (vide memoranda at end of Sundays). Shaved + prepared And. Cowan² for operation tomorrow at Viewfield. Helen + I had supper at Viewfield.

¹ Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Ogilvie née Scott Anderson (1879-1965), daughter of Thomas ‘T’ Scott Anderson of Ettrick Shaws

² Andrew Cowan, shepherd at Kirkhope or Andrew Cowan, farmer at Dryden, Ashkirk, see also diary entry for 2 November 1920

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

S.W. wind still very strong till afternoon, but raining + much milder. Helen¹ went to Ed. with Barbara² + the Thornfield kids³ to the Pantomime. I saw a town list of 15 including Stewart⁴ who was feverish again. Gave Geo. Linton⁵, Ettrick Road Chlor[oform] while Dav.⁶ removed a toe nail. Was in the House all afternoon at accounts + books. Stamped Baptie’s + Bella’s⁷ Insurance cards for the last 6 mo [months]. Got form + application for motor licence.

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

² Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), one of Dr Muir’s granddaughters

³ The children of Charles Henry Roberts and Euphemia Cranston Roberts née Greenwood, formerly of Mauldsheugh but by 1919 at Thorncroft, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk, were Euphemia Kathleen Roberts (1905-), George Roberts (1907-) and Louisa Florence Roberts (1909-); they were cousins of the Wellwooders, Dr Muir’s grandchildren

⁴ Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003), Dr Muir’s grandson

⁵ Assume George Linton, mason, who was tenant at 20 Ettrick Road, Selkirk, 1921 Valuation Roll

⁶ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁷ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929) and Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), Dr Muir’s driver/handyman and housekeeper respectively

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

Markedly colder + a stiffish S.W. wind but no fall but it looked like snow. There was a touch of hoar frost in the morning but fresh after. David¹ went to Ed.[inburgh] to see an operation on Mrs Wright². I saw a few cases walking + motored to Beechwood (out), Hangingshaw (laundry maid), Shielshaugh (Mrs Brockie³), Lindean + in afternoon to Kirklea (Miss Edwards the governess). My Dyspepsia rather better. Helen + Nancy⁴ were over at Levenlea with Agnes Durnford + her baby⁵.

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

² Perhaps Isabella Wright née Johnstone (c.1874-1923), wife of Andrew Johnstone, tailor’s cutter

³ Annie Brockie was Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Shielshaugh, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), two of Dr Muir’s daughters

⁵ Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976) and her son Stanley John Harper Durnford (1920-1995)

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

Passed a very broken night in smoke room + deplored my feeding since last Thursday! Gave chlor[oform] to Mrs Jas. Thomson¹ at Viewfield while David operated, including to shorten the round ligaments but failed². Nurse Smith came across + showed Mousey³ how to use the douche. Saw three cases + motored down to Lindean Shepherd’s house. Yesterday + today have been mild, dull, damp + today very wet.

¹ Not identified

² The shortening of the round ligaments was intended either to correct retroversion or as an aid in the treatment of uterine prolapse

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

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