A few drops of rain (literally) this morning. Dry + Sunless N.E. Cooler. David [Graham] operated on Mrs Arnot’s neck at the Home at 9.30. From there I cycled to Dunsdale Cottages + [Dunsdale]Haugh + attended Communion Service. Expected a quiet afternoon but had to go to Ashkirk Manse for D. [Dr David Graham] to see Catherine Mclair¹ [sic] the housekeeper + there at 5.30. D. had an appendix + an ovarian cyst case at the Home. It was Mrs Turnbull (nee Grace Reid²) who was staying with Mrs Brown, Philiphaugh Farm. This prevented me getting to hear McKenzie [sic] of Kirkhope who took our evening service³. Supped at Wellwood Elmpark.

¹ Not identified

² Grace Reid of Backrow, Selkirk had married James Turnbull, engineer, of Cumledge Mill, Duns, in 1893

³ The Reverend George Edward Mackenzie (1888-1934), Church of Scotland minister and soldier, at Kirkhope Church 1918-1934

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

The most perfect weather excepting the want of rain. Cloudless sky., slight N.E. wind. Dav. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] rang me up at 2.30 about a case of appendicitis (W Scott) whom he had taken to the nursing home, Glebe Terrace. I went down at 2.15 + got back to bed about 6. Breakfasted at 9. Saw a few town cases + [?], Hill Street. Tested the new cyclometer on the B.S.A. between the 1^st + 2^nd milestones on the Linglie Road + found it correct. Saw Jim [?] Russell, Heathfield, who goes to Ettrick School today¹. [Distributed?] my communion cards. Bella Henderson very ill. Dined at Elmpark. The Durnfords + Erskine + his wife were there². Most lovely evening. Baptie went up Yarrow for the rest of his holidays³. Great cooperations Peace Demonstration + pic-nic at Calton⁴.

¹ Perhaps James ‘Jim’ Russell, born January 1912, son of Peter Russell and Lizzie Wadham Currier

² Probably Major Norman S M Durnford and Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper, daughter of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, Sheriff Substitute of Selkirkshire, and Agnes Harper, later Mackintosh. It is Mrs Mackintosh at Elmpark, Agnes’s mother, who is so generous to Dr Muir. Erskine is unidentified

³ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), Dr Muir’s driver

⁴ It is not clear what this sentence refers to

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

Some lovely weather. Helen [Muir] left at 10 + Baptie motored her to Carlisle. He got back a little after 4. 100 miles in 6 ¹/₄ miles including stoppage for lunch + at station. I cycled round town + then had a good spell at clerical work. David [Graham, co-partner] was at Altrieve + Bridgelands. Supped at the Firs where I met Mr Still, who lately was locum for Somerville [?]. It looks as if there was something between him + Edith¹.

¹ Edith Smith, daughter of Patrick Smith, advocate, and Alice Smith née Paterson; Mr Still has not been identified but it is assumed he was locum to the Reverend James Somerville, United Free Minister of Selkirk who was absent on war service for part of the First World War [see The Dollar Magazine, Vol. XIV, No. 56, December 1915]

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

Cycled in town where I saw 8 cases + then to Bowhill where Cap^t Scott (a younger brother of the factor) + his family are living in the laundry. I vaccinated their baby. Came back by Kirkwynd + Briarbank. D. [Dr David Graham] motored in to Edinburgh. I have to see Bella Henderson every evening + give her a hypo of morphia. Helen [Muir] busy making preparations for her journey to Charley Norfolk [?]. Was at Elmpark seeing And[drew] Gibbons + Mrs Mackintosh with her usual open handedness gave me a bunch of grapes, a bottle of Port + a pot of some sort of relish. Saw May Tait again: a sad sad case!¹

¹ The Editor believes this refers to May Tait (c.1880-), daughter of Peter A Tait, tweed manufacturer, and his wife Mary

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

Fine weather: sunny + clear. David [Graham, co-partner] is doing all the County work + has frequently been at Altrieve where they have measles. He was also at Synton Mill in the evening. I cycled to Raeburn Meadow, Dunsdale, Whinfield + Briarbank. Went to a picnic with D + N. Cycled to Black Andro with Ralph, Edith, + Connie Smith¹ + D’s sister. D took Norah, Pat + Mrs Smith² in Tricar. Cath + Jenny Smith + a friend motored up + walked home. May McDonald + Rev Mr [?] joined us. The Burn was dry but we managed to get enough water for the kettle. I rode very fast home + had to change. I am feeling quite at home on the B.S.A. [three words deleted] Letter from Dora.

¹ Ralph Colley Smith (1891-1957), gravely injured during the First World War, Edith Margaret Smith (1896-) and Constance ‘Connie’ Harper Smith (1900-), three of the children of Patrick Smith, advocate, and Alice Smith née Paterson

² Norah Campion Graham née West (1881-1971), Dr Graham’s wife, Patrick Smith, advocate, and Alice Smith née Paterson

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

Brilliant morning: dull + colder in afternoon: a very few drops of rain between 8 + 9. Mrs Lawton died at 1.20 p.m¹. Saw the few town cases cycling. Attended meeting of Hosp visiting Committee at Hosp. re matron’s salary (which was raised £10) + heating (estimated expense of radiators to be got). Message to Helen [?] Tait’s daughter, who is home from America, + to Mrs Stirling, Hill Street. Got the day book posted.

¹ Justina Lawton née Weir, widow of James Lawton, shoemaker, died 22 July 1919, aged 49, at 9 Elm Row, Selkirk, death certified by Dr J S Muir M.B.

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

Very pleasant day. N.W. wind strong at times: very dry. Dovecot Park brown + bare. Nancy arrived soon after 9 Jack having motored her up from St Abbs¹. She was literally tanned brown! Used my new B.S.A. with my red saddle + feet fairly at home². Saw one or two town cases + went over to Yair. In the afternoon got message to see [?] Mrs Russell who had a faint. Got tradesman acc^t sorted for payment. Ordered Veeder cyclometer for new bike³.

¹ Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and son in law John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966); they had set off on 28 June for their family holiday at St Abbs, Berwickshire

² In Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 June 2019 he noted that he did not like his new bike (which the Editor suggested was probably the B.S.A. Gent’s All-Weather Bicycle) for an unspecified reason, though unfamiliarity would not be an unreasonable worry considering the 550 miles of cycling he was just about to cover on his July holiday at Glenluce

³ On 30 June 2019 Dr Muir also noted “I have no Velometer for a 28 inch wheel”. The editor suggested at the time that it was a reasonable proposition that wheel size was a consideration in the accurate measurement of distance travelled pre-GPS, presuming that it counted rotations, and that the difference in wheel size would thus have rendered Dr Muir’s device unusable on his new bike. ‘Canadian Cycling’, 15 November 2018, lovingly describes the Veeder Cyclometer (made at Hartford, Connecticut), the one that Dr Muir used, and confirms that the operating principle was wheel revolutions. Readers may wish to see the article here https://pressreader.com/@nickname12607912/csb_IJVJAEvwcRo71KI55qHt4e-GQO5eVS41q97pQSGEj-6YJQna8vx-NPYJYPrxFtkd but the PressReader experience is a nasty one, even if you register, and the Editor cannot recommend it; your time is better (and less painfully) spent slamming your head in a car door

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

Three minor operations at Mauldsheugh + an appendicitis at the nursing home (Philips House ?, Glebe Terrace) viz Miss Scott, Bridgelands. Cycled to Mauldsheugh via Raeburn Meadows. Had to see Mrs Lawton+ use catheter + aid. Message to Hicks?, Dandswall Lodge. Finished Sir H Maxwell’s ‘Dumfries & Galloway”¹. Went to evening service. Choir sang chorus from Elijah “Be Not Afraid” + Creation “Achieved in the glorious work”². There were 2 solos. Supped at Mauldsheugh, David’s sister there.

¹ Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell, 7th Baronet of Monreith (1845-1937), ‘A History of Dumfries and Galloway’, William Blackwood and Sons, 1896, Edinburgh & London

² Excerpts from oratorios ‘The Creation’ (‘Die Schöpfung’) by Joseph Haydn and ‘Elijah’ (‘Elias’) by Felix Mendelssohn

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

PEACE DAY¹ There was a heavy storm at 5 a.m. Like armistice day (Nov 11) this has been perfect as regards weather: unfortunately the festivities which were being organised to be held at the Cricket ground fell through. There was a holiday: the bells were rung at 12 at night, there was a bonfire + a pyrotechnic display. There was a big holiday crowd + squibs &c were exploding in the streets all day. Felt quite fit today. David [Graham, co-partner] came up in the forenoon + talked over the work. He has been busy but not pushed. Nelly Brunton, Raeburn Meadows, died on Thursday + Bella Henderson + Mrs Lawton are very ill³. I saw a list of 8 in the town. Sat a while in the garden, looked at my letters &c. Jack [Roberts] went to St Abbs yesterday, is bringing Helen [Muir] home on Monday. My mileage during my holiday amounts to 543.35 miles or an average of 38.7 per riding day. I walked up beyond Heathpark at 11 p.m. + saw the bonfire + firework.

¹ As the National Army Museum states “Although hostilities ceased with the Armistice on 11 November 1918, the First World War did not end officially until the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919. In Britain, peace was celebrated on 19 July that year, with a Victory Parade in London as the main event.” https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/peace-and-commemoration/

² Helen ‘Nelly’ Brunton, woollen winder, unmarried, died 17 July 1919, aged 54, at 5 Raeburn Meadows, Selkirk

³ Isabella ‘Bella’ Henderson, unmarried woollen winder, died 13 August 1919, aged 57, at Forest Road, Selkirk, while Justina Lawton née Weir, widow of James Lawton, shoemaker, died 22 July 1919, aged 49, at 9 Elm Row, Selkirk, death certified by Dr J S Muir M.B.

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

Got home at 6.20 after a very fast ride from Dumfries. Said goodbye to my kind host + hostess after sending off my bag by rail + my tan shoes by parcel post enabling me to right ride lighter. Couldn’t get by [sic] back tyre properly inflated + took it to the repair shop. There they found something wrong with the valve of the new tyre they fitted on Wednesday + before they got it right it was 10.30. What with splendid roads + a S.W. wind I did the 21 miles in 1h 46m or almost 12 m.p.h. I was only 5 minutes in Moffat I left at 12.24 + got the first walk at Hunterheck¹. At Craigieburn² I picked up a big nail in my back tyre + after spending more than [an] hour patching it had to turn back to Moffat + get it properly done. It was most provoking. Ate my lunch + got a glass of beer meantime + finally got away at 2.59, a loss of more than 2½ hours. However I did splendid time + did the journey home in 3½ hours. The roads were execrable from before the tail to Chapelhope³ but I came along with the wind for the first few miles at 15 m.p.h. But for the puncture I would have been home before 4 o’clock. I was pretty stiff. Had a hot bath + dinner + went to bed comfortably tired.

¹ Hunterheck, where the road rises, grid reference NGR NT101,047.

² Craigieburn, NT116,051.

³ Assume Gray Mare’s Tail, NT186145, to Chapelhope, NT231,190.

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