Thick fog. Mild calm N.E. to S.E. + E. Raining in afternoon:- very heavily about 4.30 + very dark. Cycled to Forest Road, Beechwood (where I got a ‘Phone from Dav. wanting my assistance at a Confin^t [confinement] in Yarrow Terrace (Mrs Nichol). Neither forceps nor version availed + decapitation had to be done¹. Then I went to Levenlea + saw Mrs Harrison, returning by Curror Street. Got everything adjusted for end of month + end of our 2^nd year + hope to get the accounts out quickly. Helen + Cath Smith² at a recital in Victoria Hall. Letter from Jean saying she is not going to give up Pike³.

¹ The two doctors appear to have been reduced to using a process something like that described here https://www.ozy.com/flashback/before-the-c-section-there-was-this-barbaric-birth-practice/71619/

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter and Catherine Adam ‘Cath’ Smith (1874-1929)

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941) was to marry, 15 June 1920 at Mayfield U.F. Church, Newington, Edinburgh, Frederick Charles Pike (d.1921), theatrical agent. At their marriage both were living (at different premises) in East Preston Street, Edinburgh

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

Another miserable day of fog + rain from N.E. but calm + mild. Walked to Curror Street, Nursing Home (chlor[oform] for a curetting), Philiphaugh Cottages, Beechwood, High Street + then to Knowepark, Backrow + Russell cottage. No County work for either of us. Was in house all afternoon + worked at books. Alice Muir came to tea with Helen [Muir]. Helen was at women’s missionary meeting.

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

Before March 31st the Crocuses were quite over. The daffodils beginning to flower + the fronds showing on the leaf buds of the Rowan¹

A dull mild day with almost continuous drizzle. With only 4 town cases to make I walked over to see Wm. Hall, Yairbridge + enjoyed it. Got back at 2.30 + at 4.30 had to go to Ettrickbridgend + see Mrs. Rob. Mitchell. Dav. [Graham] was at Deloraine but they failed to catch him². I went in Ad. Scott’s car, a very fast one. Later a message came to [go to] Jas. Mitchell junior, Henderland, who had had an accident with his car near the Craig. I hired from Bryson + didn’t get home till nearly 12. There were 19 or 20 people at Consulting hour.

¹ Assume Dr Muir is referring to the hairs on the buds of the Rowan or Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia

² Catch him i.e. while he was part of the way up to Ettrick

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

It blew + rained all night + stopped at 9 or 10 this morning. The Ettrick was over the grass at the sluice + I don’t remember when it was so swollen. I had to go Yarrowford + donned all my waterproofs for cycling but I didn’t get a drop of rain + the afternoon was quite fine. David [Graham] had 2 confinements, a girl Purvis in Forest Road + Mrs Harrison¹, Levenlea². Went to evening service + supped at Wellwood.

¹ Assume births of Olive Margaret Purves and Beatrice de Fraine Harrison (1920-1998), daughter of John Harrison

² Levenlea is one of the series of large houses north west of Philiphaugh Farm and above what is now Bannerfield Estate, the others being Philipburn, Manorhill, The Firs and Bannerfield, see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.NE, revised 1897, published 1901 https://maps.nls.uk/view/75674482

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

It was fair today but blowing strongly from S. It began to rain about 2 + continued all evening. I cycled round town + out to Buxton. At 5 had to go to Beechwood to see one of the nurses + it was raining heavily. I cycled. There at 8.15 I got a message for Mrs Archibald Johnston¹ + walked down. Agnes Durnford + her baby² arrived at Elmpark. Jack³ motored to Easter Lilliesleaf for eggs + they went on to Hawick + met Barbara⁴ who came home for Easter.

¹ Assume the widow of Archibald Johnstone (about 1842-1914), bookseller, of 24 Market Place, Selkirk

² Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976) and her baby son Stanley J H Durnford, born 9 March 1920 at 20 Melville Street, Edinburgh, son of Norman Stanley M Durnford, of Stoke Bishop, Bristol, managing director of a limited company, and Agnes Durnford

³ John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, later knighted “for political and public services in Selkirk”

⁴ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996)

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

A Blink of sun at 7 + then a day of rain. I saw a few town cases walking, seeing after Mrs Baptie (Molly Douglas¹), Ochre Hall², who is long past her time. Neither Dav. [Dr David Graham] nor I had any County work. There was some sleet in the afternoon + the hills were white before dark.

¹ Mary J ‘Molly’ Baptie née Inglis married James Armstrong Baptie on 20 July 1911 at Edinburgh, at which time he was recorded as of Cape Town and she of Forest Road, Selkirk

² Ochre Hall, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk

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

Brilliant morning + quite fair till evening when there was a little rain. My dyspepsia better + I enjoyed both lunch + dinner. Was not out of town. Cycled to Wellwood, Hospital, Bridge Street [and] Philiphaugh Cottages. Attended meeting of Red X [Cross] Exec. to consider mode of electing to Council. David [Graham, co-partner] was at Broadmeadows + Carterhaugh, Ramsaycleuch + back to Kirkhope Manse to dinner with McKenzie + McDonald McDonald. The Swift broke down at Broadmeadows + he had to ‘Phone for a hire.

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

David rung [sic] me up a little after 12 (when I had not been very long in bed) wanting Baptie to take him out to Barton. I said however I would walk out. I did so + found Mrs H had had an M.C. It was drizzling as I came home. It was a nice mild hazy day. I walked out to Buxton¹ in forenoon + on to Whitlaw Kips² from which I saw the hounds leave Bowden Moor, run along the crest of Cauldshiels Hill + turn round to Faldonside. I then crossed over to Cauldshiels but saw nothing more of them. Felt very fagged when I got back + my dyspepsia back. Was hauled out at 5 to see Miss Dunn because [Nurse] Beck had told her her pulse was quick. Went early to bed. Neither D. [Dr David Graham] nor I had any County work. It rained heavily in afternoon.

¹ Buxton is at approximate grid reference NGR NT482,287

² Whitlaw Kips is WNW of Over Whitlaw Farm at approximate grid reference NGR NT510,303

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

Dense fog in the morning with the sun piercing through like a dim half sovereign. I though the fog would clear but it did only slightly + there was scarcely a blink of sun all day. It was fairly nice however. Had very little to do. Met Dav. at the Home + gave Jean Oliver gas to examine her knee which D. thinks is beginning to anchylose [ankylose]. Went on to Forest Mill, Spion Kop + Curror Street. Saw one or two in afternoon. Felt a little dyspeptic at night. Dav. [Graham] was at Broadmeadows + Newarkburn + then at Borthwickbrae + Borthwickshiels. Baptie driving him in the Swift.

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

Mrs G T Scott¹ died suddenly this morning [note above 22 March]

A perfect day! There was a little hoar frost + afterwards brilliant sunshine all day. David came home this morning. It was a shock to me when he got a message to see the Duke. I feel more than ever now that I must take a back seat, but I must fight against this horrid feeling of jealousy that comes to one when I find old patients preferring my young colleague. I went down first thing to Mauldsheugh + came back + gave the wee boy Harper, Kirkwynd, chlor[oform] to open an abscess. Then I cycled to Whinfield Cottage + Linglie Cottages + round by Hospital. Nancy [Roberts nee Muir] even asked to go for a short walk with Helen [Muir]. D. [David] had to go to Borthwickbrae at night + Baptie drove him with Swift².

¹ Mrs G T Scott was Margaret Scott, wife of Gideon Thomas Scott, wine merchant, who died 10.50 p.m. on 21 March 1920 at The Home, 15 High Street, Selkirk, aged 64; she was the daughter of Thomas Scott, farmer, and Margaret Elliot Scott, formerly Little, née Ballantyne

² Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry, it is not clear which model Dr Muir owned of this small motor manufacturer’s many products but it had been the ‘workhorse’ car for the practice since Dr Muir had acquired it some time before Auguust 1914 [Source: ‘Swift Models 1901-1931’, http://www.theswiftclub.co.uk]

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