Same cold biting wind + one or two slight showers. David [two words deleted] cycled (actually cycled) to Broadmeadows + Black Andro this forenoon + was then called to a confinement at Shorthope from which he did not get back till 8 or 9 O’clock. I was twice at Rockville + Bannerfield + cycled round town. Pringle-Pattison¹ called about Jas. Laidlaw. Message to see Willie Park’s boy [at] Wayside².

¹ Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison, formerly Seth (1856-1931), FBA, DCL, Scottish philosopher, who had inherited the Haining, Selkirk, in 1898

² William Park, licensed grocer was at Wayside, Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk [1920 Valuation Roll]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Slates wet this morning. Was N. [wind] pretty sharp. There was snow on Ettrick hills yesterday. It kept pretty fair all day: one or two slight showers in afternoon. Dav. [Graham] saw F Roberts with me. I cycled there [and] Sunderland Hall Stables. Saw Fowler about some Vacc [Vaccination] cards + D.C.A.¹ about [illegible] at Clubhouse. Went to meeting of Panel Committee at Gala. All there but Doig + Hiddleston². Long meeting. Didn’t get back till nearly 7. Snow on Peat Law this morning.

¹ David Carnegie Alexander, ‘Carnegie Alexander’ or ‘D.C.A.’ (1856-1928), solicitor

² William Doig (1859-1922) and John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954), medical practitioners

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Cold N.W. to N. wind but it was sunny + dry all day till about 4 when there was a very severe blast of heavy rain + sleet. I cycled to Rockville Terrace, Curror Street, Bannerfield, Heatherliebank. Did some book work in afternoon. David [Graham] came up + we arranged about Income Tax, nurse McGilligan at Rockville knows Dora. They were at Miss Proudfoot’s home together. She called this afternoon. Bella [Paulin] + Dora [Muir] both better.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Cold N.W. wind. Bright in morning but dull after + a little rain. David [Graham, co-partner] + Norah¹ returned. Baptie² met them at Gala. Saw Mrs Nichol³ with D. + cycled to Bannerfield, Rockville. Dressed Currie⁴ along with D. at night. Examined Dundas for Scottish Widows. In afternoon cycled to Faldonside + on to Newstead where I had tea with Guy, H. + D. Got a shower coming back. Busy consult hour. Dora [Muir] better. Bella⁵ in bed.

¹ Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner

² Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

³ Mrs Nichol, Yarrow Terrace, had an operation on 17 April 1920

⁴ Robert Currie (about 1857-1923), hosiery manufacturer

⁵ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

See Sunday April 25 [this has been corrected in the transcript]

Cold N.W. wind but not much rain. Dry in afternoon. Message to R Currie, Rockville¹. Cycled up at 9.40 + found him with suspicion of appendicitis which was confirmed when I saw him again at 1.15. ‘Phoned for Fraser who came at 5.30 + operated. There was perforation + pus. Currie stood the operation well. I had also a confinement going on with Mrs Andrew Rutherford, 35 Backrow, who fortunately hung on till evening². I gave chlor[oform] + delivered a F. at 9.45. With these two I was kept pretty well on the run all day. Dora had to go to bed with flatulent colic. Mrs Mc.³ was to have supped with us but I put her off. I got Fraser to see Mrs Nichol, Yarrow Terrace⁴.

¹ Robert Currie (about 1857-1923), hosiery manufacturer and Owner / Proprietor at Rockville, Hillside Terrace, 1920 Valuation Roll

² Christina Neilson Rutherford (1920-2011), daughter of Andrew Rutherford, power loom tuner, and Elizabeth Hogg, power loom weaver, married 7 November 1918 at which time Andrew was in France with the Army Service Corps

³ Agnes Mackintosh, née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, a close friend of Dr Muir

⁴ Mrs Nichol, Yarrow Terrace, had an operation on 17 April 1920 but appears to be causing concern

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

The fine weather hasn’t lasted long. Today was dull + sunless + with some drizzling showers. I started out motoring to Mellalieu, Nichol, Finney + some others + then up to Broadmeadows to see Adam Inch¹ who returned from Edinburgh on Wednesday + is quite well. Then I got message to Parker’s which took me a while. Came back by Bannerfield. At 1.45 started for Lilliesleaf called at Humes: saw Mrs H but no messages + came back via Greenhill at 2.45. David’s car does go. Was not out again. Did some work at Income Tax returns. Robert Scott (son of Andrew, Mavisbank) came in late with Hemiplegia.

¹ See also diary entry for 6 April 1920; this is probably Adam Inch (1909-), son of John William Gibson Inch (c.1867-1939), farmer and tenant at Broadmeadows in 1920 Valuation Roll (though it has not been possible to rule out that it is Adam Inch (c.1877-1935), J W G Inch’s brother); Adam junior was born at Edrom, Berwickshire, John his father died at Pathhead, Midlothian

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A fine day at last. Hoar frost. Sunshine all day till evening when it got cloudy. Calm + mild. Made 19 town calls cycling + went to Bannerfield, Bowhill Lodge, Black Andro + Thirladean. Had a smoke at Black Andro. Wrote Jean¹. Dora at tea at Elmpark. Mellalieus’ kid rather better.

¹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, later Pike (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

See Sunday May 2nd [this has been corrected in the transcript]

Same dull shower weather. A very red sunrise: S.W. no sunshine. Got letter from Dav. [Graham]. He will be home on Sat. or Sunday. Mellalieu’s kid very ill, but rather better at night after a dose of Calomel¹. Motored round town + after lunch to Prieston. Bella² out in afternoon + Dora [Muir] did everything as well as anybody could have done. There was a meeting of Panel Commi^ttee at Gala, but I couldn’t go.

¹ Calomel (Hg2Cl2), also known as horn mercury, mercurous chloride or mercury (I) chloride, was long in use internally and externally, in spite of its toxicity, for a number of problems including constipation, the incubation period of infectious disease, cholera, dysentery and membrane croup (by fumigation), but was an outdated treatment by 1920; Dr Muir may have been running out of options with Dorothy Mary Mellalieu (1919-1920), born 6 November 1919 at Roseneuk, The Glebe, Selkirk but also to die there in June 1920

² Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

See Wednesday April 21st [this has been corrected in the transcript]

Cold N. to N.W. wind: some rain at midday + in afternoon: sunny intervals. Cycled to Yarrow Terrace + in town but was stopped by rain. Was at Wellwood to see Timmy¹ who hears is rather [illegible]. Went to Child Welfare + said something about artificial feeding [?]. Then motored to Bannerfield, Ravensheugh + Thirladean. Had to go + dress Mrs Nichol, Yarrow Terrace in evening as Nurse Beck was taking a case to Edinburgh. Dora [Muir] fairly installed as housekeeper + doing well + seems happier².

¹ Assume George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), Dr Muir’s grandson

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was a nurse overseas for a large part of the First World War and then had a love affair with a doctor that ended unhappily

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Clear + sunny at 7 but wet slates + roads showed it had recently rained + after there was a shower more rain in afternoon. Otherwise it was fair but colder N.E. [wind]. Had a big list again but was able to cycle. Dressed Mrs Nichol with nurse at 10 after seeing Ian Turnbull. Saw some Heatherlie cases, Bannerfield, Yair Bridge, Bogle House, Caddonfoot, Bridgelands + Curror Street. Saw some other cases after lunch. Called to say goodbye to Agnes Durnford¹ + before dinner was called to Tait, Backrow² + Baby Mellalieu³. Helen [Muir] left with Agnes D. for London.

¹ Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976), she had married in 1918 and, though she appears to have come to Scotland in 1920 specifically to have her baby son, she spent most of the rest of her life living in the Bath, Somerset area

² Unidentified, there were several Tait households in Backrow, Selkirk in the 1920 Valuation Roll

³ Dorothy Mary Mellalieu, daughter of William Norman Mellalieu, music teacher, and Judith Anne Mellalieu née Hardwick, born 6 November 1919 at Roseneuk, The Glebe, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]