There was no fall of snow during the day + it was inclined to thaw but there was some slushy snow at night. Saw a few town cases + motored to Black Andro + walked to Fastheugh.¹ It was pretty heavy going. Gave Hardie² the postman who was walking a lift down on the back of the car. Went to a whist drive organised by the Cycle Club. There were 17 tables. It passed off very well + I presented the prizes. It was after 11 when I got home.

¹ Dr Muir had previously attended Elizabeth Hutchison at Fastheugh, grid reference NGR NT392,289, at the west end of Black Andrew woods on the south side of the Yarrow Water.

² Hardie the postman is so far unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Wrote Dora¹ 15 [November]

After a very ruddy sunrise snow began to fall heavily + continued till 3 after which it gradually cleared. At first there was a stiffish E.N.E. wind which must have caused some drifts. Later the wind fell + turned S.W. + it seemed softer. I saw half a dozen cases walking + was not out after 1. Wrote Dora, + strange to say, as happened the last time, a letter from her arrived while I was writing. Helen² went to Gala + met Winifred Armitage.³ She went + came in a car with Mrs Mack.⁴

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, who was living and working in Egypt at this time.

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

³ Margaret ‘Winifred’ Armitage (1874-1970), daughter of William Armitage, cotton merchant, and Margaret Petrie Armitage née Mills. Winifred’s sister Dorothy had married Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and son of the Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir, Dr Muir’s brother.

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

At 7.30 there was a cloudless sky + by 8.30 a snow blizzard! During the forenoon there were some slight showers of snow. At night it was calm + frosty. Glass rising. Dav.¹ was shooting at Fairnilee + I saw some town cases of his + own walking! Laid some accounts. Sent off Pat’s letter with draft for £5 for Xmas.² Wrote Jean³ re Dora’s debts⁴ my Coryza was rather worse towards evening. Mrs Mack⁵ called with Sperlings [sic]⁶ + sent me by Helen⁷ 2 bottles of Port. There is to be a general election on December 6.⁸ Got my hair cut. Barometer : 28.31 28.76

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

² Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, widowed but still living in Newington, Edinburgh.

⁴ There have been no previous references to possible debts of Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, who was living and working in Egypt at this time.

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁶ Dr Muir may have intended to write sparkling.

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

⁸ The 1923 United Kingdom general election was held on Thursday 6 December 1923 and led to a short-lived minority government under Ramsay MacDonald.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

A dull damp drizzling day. There had been a fall of sleet in the morning but it was fresh all day with a remarkable rise of temperature, the windows becoming dimmed with moisture outside. The barometer fell. I motored to Curror Street, Dunsdale, Buccleuch Road, Philiphaugh Cottages + then did a few walking. The Wellwood¹ car took Mrs Mack² + Wallace³ to St Abbs⁴ + Helen⁵ came home with them. Wrote Patrick⁶ + Douglas.⁷ Paid Feu duty +c. Barometer: 28.57

¹ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and her husband John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner.

² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

³ Miss Jane Wallace (1874-), nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren [see diary entries for 6 April 1915, 22 October 1916 and 7 April 1918 and 1911 Census].

⁴ The Roberts family routinely holidayed on the east coast, in Berwickshire or Northumberland. Other members of the family had travelled to St Abbs on 5 November.

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁶ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.

⁷ It is not immediately clear who Douglas was.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

[At top of page] Wrote Patrick¹ 13^th : Jean² 14^th

Spent another day in the house but my cold was decidedly better. Got a P.C. [postcard] from Helen³ to say she was returning tomorrow. It was a dull but dry day. There was a meeting of the Panel Committee⁴ in the Station Hotel⁵ to which 7 [?] came. I couldn’t go, nor to a lecture by Mr Jardine⁶ in the Church Hall. Saw patients at consultation hour.

¹ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, widowed but still living in Newington, Edinburgh.

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

⁴ This refers to the British Museum Association (B.M.A.) local panel. The meeting does not appear to have been noted in the British Medical Journal.

⁵ The Station Hotel, sometimes called the Railway Hotel by Dr Muir was (and is) in Station Road, Selkirk, Canmore ID 100365 and grid reference NGR NT46663,28769.

⁶ Mr Jardine is unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

I had to keep the house all day as my Coryza was very bad + the tickling cough most harassing. Spent the day in the Smoke room. David¹ looked in. It was a dull day + there was some rain in the afternoon. It was Armistice day + our Communion. The Service began at 10.45. Barometer: 29.64 29.25

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Very hard frost + the tarmac streets a sheet of ice but it got softer during the day + very muddy. I cycled to Clifton Road, Hospital, Mill Street, Forest Road + Beechwood where I removed a [illegible] cyst from nurse Pringle.¹ Then I motored to Sprot Homes, Lilliesleaf + Dimpleknowe at which latter place I found the doors of both cottages locked!² The hounds met at Ashkirk + I met the riders going home + saw all the hounds + whips at Sinton Mill. All day I have felt a Coryza + laryngeal catarrh coming on.

¹ Nurse Pringle is as yet unidentified.

² The cottages at Dimpleknowe, Ashkirk, proprietor Major James Douglas Corse Scott of Synton, were occupied by Walter Mabon and John G Jackson respectively.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Sky cloudless at 7.30 but soon got overcast + there was a short but heavy fall of snow which degenerated into a drizzling rain. About 2 there was a blink of sunshine. Strongish E. to N.E. wind. Saw 7 town cases. A case of suspected Diphtheria from Sinton¹ was sent in by Dr Haddon, Hawick.² Freezing at night. Went to concert organised by the Ex. Serv. Assoc.³ Bell of Gala⁴ : Miss Menhilay⁵ a contralto + a chap on the dulcimer were good. I came out before the end. Miss Wallace⁶ + Mrs Mack⁷ came over + had a bite [?]. Barometer : 29.0. 29.64

¹ There had been a significant outbreak of Diphtheria in the Selkirk area very early in the 1920s.

² David Alexander Ross Haddon (1890-1979), medical practitioner, at Buccleuch Street, Hawick, 1921 Census.

³ Assume Ex-Servicemen’s Association.

⁴ Bell of Gala appears occasionally in Dr Muir’s diaries but he has not yet been identified.

⁵ Miss Mentilay is unidentified but may well be Catherine Mentiplay, an operatic contralto performing at this time – including in 1922 in Elijah for the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union.

⁶ Miss Jane Wallace (1874-), nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren [see diary entries for 6 April 1915, 22 October 1916 and 7 April 1918 and 1911 Census].

⁷ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Another dry frosty day : very cold. David¹ was away shooting + I saw some of his town cases. Walked to Curror Street, Mill Street, Croft House, Ettrickhaugh Road [and] Ettrick Road. Distributed my Communion Cards in afternoon + found everybody at tea. Dined at Elmpark.² Miss Wallace³ there. Had rubber at Whist.⁴ Mrs Mack + Dummy won against Wallace + me. Fine clear night.

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

² Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946).

³ Miss Jane Wallace (1874-), nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren [see diary entries for 6 April 1915, 22 October 1916 and 7 April 1918 and 1911 Census]; she was born at Langbarns, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire.

⁴ This appears to have been a form of Whist with a three players and a dummy, rather than Bridge where a fourth player sits out play when his or her hand has been deemed to be dummy.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Sharp black frost followed by a cloudless dry day with sharp but slight N.W. wind. Left at 10 + cycled to St Boswells, the hounds meeting at kennels.¹ The last 1½ miles of the road are so awfully cut up by traction engine traffic that I turned off + went by Comiston² which makes the distance only 0.8 more. It was a very pretty [illegible]. I hoped they would go to Long Newton but they turned away for Kippilaw.³ I went on to Teviot Bridge turning aside to see for the 1^st time Maid Marian’s tree [?]⁴ Came back by 29 3 Knowesouth + Denholm to Horns Hole.⁵ The total distance was 35.75. Got back a little after 3 + after tea walked to [illegible] Street + Dunsdale. Letter from Jack Spittal.⁶

¹ The Duke of Buccleuch’s Hunt’s kennels were at St Boswells.

² Comiston is so far unidentified.

³ Longnewton, grid reference NGR NT584,276, and Kippielaw, NT548,291.

⁴ This reference is unidentified.

⁵ Dr Muir has travelled westwards on the S.E. side of the River Teviot, probably after crossing at Ancrum, before re-crossing at Hornshole.

⁶ John Kerr ‘Jack’ Spittal (1883-1946), accountant. Son of Charles Grey Spittal (1836-1891), friend of Dr Muir, and Rachel Spittal née Harvey (1845-1917).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]