Extraordinarily mild day. 50^o outside. In the outer lobby + dining room the mirror, mantel shelf + clock were running with moisture. Strong W. wind + some rain in afternoon + evening. Assisted D. [Dr David Graham] at 2 operations at Home viz Maggie Warwick for a cervical abscess + Martha Ingles to have her toes trimmed. Cycled to Bowhill, Philiphaugh + Fauldshope. Went to evening service + had Jack [Roberts] to supper. Wrote Nancy [Roberts née Muir].

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Another quick + unexpected change to mild fresh weather. Dull + sunless: fairly strong W. wind. Left at 9.15 + motored to Hamilton. Called at Yair but did not see Dubs¹. Went via Carnwath + returned via Biggar. It is 62 miles but I went a little out of the way in Hawick seeking Woodhouse. Got there at 1.15. Had lunch. Jean [Muir] was there having come last night. It was a sad affair¹. Came straight way from the cemetery at 3.25 + got home at 7.25. Had to put the Stepney³ on off hind wheel near Biggar. Lit the lamps at Carmichael [South Lanarkshire]. Poor Helen had a bad time with double emphysema, synovitis of knee + endocarditis. She had operation for [illegible].

¹ Albert Dubs (1860-1920), engineer and locomotive builder, later of ‘private means’ with nine servants [source: 1911 census], born Anderston, Glasgow but now staying in Yair

² The funeral of Helen Muriel Patrick (1880-1919) who died 18 November 1919 at Hamilton, Lanarkshire – see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 19 November

³ The Stepney Spare Wheel was invented by Thomas Morris Davies of Llanelli in 1904 at a time when motor cars were made without spare wheels – Davies’s brilliant idea was to make a spokeless wheel rim fitted with an inflated tyre; by 1920 the need was diminishing as cars came with a spare wheel but a ‘stepney’ is still the everyday name for a spare wheel in India, Bangladesh, Malta and in Brazil, where it is called an ‘estepe’ [BBC ‘A History of the World’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/qPgTiS8fQ6SeIqZLvZVfXQ]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Frosty. Sharp day. Keen N.W. wind. Roads hard today with ice in places but very good for cycling. Baptie¹ better + working. Made 18 town calls walking + cycling + cycled to Ovenscloss + Yair. Dubs not so well. Came back via Rink. After tea got back [?] out + called for Miss Dunn. Got Share certificates from Prov. Cinem. Theatres² for £300 Pref. + £100 Ordinary shares. Letter from May in which she says that Frank Muir has had his goitre removed.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

² Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Ltd, see diary entry for 28 October 1919 for more detail

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Back to wintry conditions again. Snow lying this morning + a very heavy blast from N.W. between 9 + 10. After that however it was clear + sunny but freezing + in the shade the snow lay. I was able to cycle however in the town + to Bowhill. Went up + looked at the thinnings in the Young Harehead wood which Bob Mitchell says I can have for the taking. In afternoon wrote Clapperton¹ the sculptor in reply to his letter complaining of a report of the War Memorial Sub Cttee in the Border Standard. Wrote Jean [Muir] that I was going to Helen Patrick’s funeral². She phoned that she is going to Hamilton tomorrow night. Later Jack [Roberts] ‘phoned me that he would motor to the funeral + take me if he couldn’t [illegible].

¹ Thomas J Clapperton, F.R.B.S. (1879-1962), Scottish sculptor

² Helen Muriel Patrick (1880-1919), died 18 November 1919 at Hamilton, Lanarkshire – see diary entry for 19 November 1919

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Strong W. wind with some blasts of rain. Snow quite gone except for remains of what had fallen from roofs &c + drifts on hills. It has been a very rapid + complete thaw + the river was very swollen. Got wire [telegram] from Hamilton that Helen Patrick died last night. Wrote all the girls to tell them + also Tina. Baptie in bed with severe coryza. Cycled to Faldonside to see Jessie Boyd². Donned my overalls. Got severe blast. Roads not so heavy as I expected. Called for Norah + took her a box of Millins Bicuits.

¹ Helen Muriel Patrick (1880-1919), died 18 November 1919 at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, aged 39; she was the daughter of David Patrick, solicitor, and Christina Robertson Patrick née Rodger and granddaughter of Peter Rodger (1804-1888), of Selkirk, solicitor and local government official

² Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A very decided fresh with strong W. to S.W. wind. A lot of the snow gone. Dovecot Park quite clear by the evening. Raining in afternoon. Saw nine town cases + motored to Bowhill where I was asked to interview Duke and Duchess [of Buccleuch]. David [Graham, co-partner] had Fordyce out from Edinburgh to curette Mrs D Wright at the House + Norah [?]. Got 7 pheasants + a hare from Jim Scott of Synton.

¹ Major James Douglas Corse Scott (1886-), son of John Corse Scott and Esther Jane Scott née Robson Scott

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Welcome change to S.W. + thaw. It became quite mild, so much so that the windows became drier on the outside + the temp. of the room rose after the windows were opened. The streets were awful with slush. It seems to have been an unprecedented storm for November everywhere. I had a list of 29 of whom I saw 23 motoring + walking. David [Graham] did Bowhill as he had got a message to the new school mistress at Newark – Miss Allan¹. Had a severe attack of dyspepsia at night. Got letter from W Rodger announcing the death of his sister Daisy².

¹ Miss Jessie Allan, teacher, was recorded as tenant, Bowhill Schoolhouse, Selkirk Parish in the 1920 Valuation Roll

² The Editor suspects that this refers to William ‘Willie’ Rodger (1880-1959) and his sister Margaret Brydone ‘Daisy’ Brydone née Rodger (1874-1919); the only (!) problem with this hypothesis is that Daisy died on 18 November 1919 but it would not be the first time Dr Muir has confused dates in his diary or left blank spaces that suggest he was, at least on occasion, completing the diary retrospectively

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Frost very keen this morning. Surgery and servants’ W.C.s frozen. Got them put right. I don’t think it was quite as hard in the evening. Much duller: no sunshine. Saw W [illegible] + Robert Scott, Mavisbank + motored to Bowhill. Lady Constance ‘phoned me about Mrs Ordish. Was in house all afternoon. Wrote Dora [Muir], Lady Napier, [illegible], Fauldshope (re October account). Was called out at 5.30 to Mrs Mack², Chapel Street who [had] a faecal umbilical fistula³. Went to evening service: slight snow shower in afternoon.

¹ Assume Lady Constance Montagu-Douglas-Scott (1877-1970)

² Actually Mrs Margaret McNamara of 37 Chapel Street; she died on the 13th December 1919

³ The Editor cannot do better than quote a reader “This is a very rare condition and is associated with Crohn’s Disease or diverticulitis see https://www.hindawi.com/journals/cris/2013/925041/

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Very keen frost. 25^o at Bowhill: clearer, calm + but for the cold very pleasant. Walked to Elmrow, Tait’s Hill + Bowhill returning via Oakwoodmill. Took Kelty [horse] + left him in the stick house at Matt Rodger’s while I went up to the house [Bowhill]. Mrs Ordish worse. Had to send George Smith to clear the Viewfield roof of snow. Letter from Dora [Muir]. David [Graham] was at Ovenscloss + Yarrowford: Mrs Lumgair, The Priory + Mrs Dickson (Mrs Lawson’s sister) the Manse.

¹ Isabella Stevenson ‘Isa’ Lumgair née Morrison, widow of Andrew Gray Lumgair, was living at The Priory, Ettrick Road, Selkirk [1920 Valuation Roll]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Mr Kirkpatrick, Yarrow Manse¹ rang me up last night about his sister and I thought I might have to go today but go[t] no further word. It was a dense fog this morning and hard frost. Quite calm N.W. Saw 9 cases walking in Snow Boots which made progression very ticklish[?] + motored to Bowhill where I found Mrs Ordish less well. Got a glass of port from Simpson. Wrote Helen [Muir]. David [Graham, co-partner] came up + dined with me. We had a delicious tender stewed Blackcock, a [illegible] + macaroni cheese. Miss Beust² has requested me to get the snow off Viewfield roof but I shall wait for Dundas’ opinion about it.

¹ The Reverend Roger Sandilands Kirkpatrick (1859-1943), minister of Yarrow 1912 onwards

² Miss Alexina Margaret Buist (1853-1936) was the tenant of Viewfield (proprietors the executors of James Strathearn Steedman) on the 1906-1918 Valuation Rolls; in the 1911 Census she is noted as aged 57, of ‘private means’ and born Dundee, Forfarshire

Continue reading 14 November 1919 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk