As cold as ever with occasional snow showers. The snow however melted as it fell. I had a very quiet day. David [Graham, co-partner] returned from Edinburgh at midday. I made 9 visits. Sandie Johnstone died in the afternoon¹. I saw him in the morning + found his temperature had rapidly fallen to norm. They sent along about 4 + he died while I was there. Made out some D.D.M.S.² acct [accounts]. Went to evening service. Dav. + Norah [Graham] + Jack³ came to supper.

¹ Alexander Johnstone, tailor and clothier (retired), widow of Jane Armstrong, died 30 March 1919, aged 81, at West Port, Selkirk, of broncho-pneumonia, he was the son of John Johnstone, tailor and clothier, and Janet Johnstone née Hewitson, death registered by John McIntyre, nephew-in-law of Eastfield, Selkirk and certified by J S Muir M.B.

² Deputy Director Medical Services

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

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

Still extraordinarily cold. Hard frost + a shower of snow between 5 + 6. Quite dry + dry + some dust [?]. David + Norah motored to Edinburgh¹. The former to attend a dinner in connection with Craigleith Hospital². I motored to Fairnilea + Yair + saw some town cases after. No new work. Got a terrible shock when Paul Cochrane ‘phoned me that John Scott died this morning. Poor John. His later years have been sadly darkened by his many losses. 2 sons in law, a daughter and 2 sons³. I noted how broken down he looked on Tuesday week at Alex’s funeral⁴. The Patons called today.

¹ Dr Muir’s co-partner Dr David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner and his wife of three years Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971)

² Later the Western General Hospital

³ John Corse Scott (1854-1919) of Synton lost his daughter Violet Johnston Stewart née Scott in 1915 of a brain haemorrhage (after the death of her husband Herbert Eustace Hathorn Johnston-Stewart, also in 1915) and his son John Michael Corse Scott on 29 March 1917 in Greece. John Scott’s other son-in-law Captain Ian Forbes Mackay had been killed 25 September 1914 at Loos-en-Gohelle, Pas de Calais, France, while his other son Alexander Corse Scott (1894-1919), Captain Royal Scots, died 13 March 1919 at Aboyne Hospital, Bellwood Road, Peterculter, Aberdeenshire. All six are memorialised on a single panel at Ashkirk

⁴ See comment in diary entry for 18 March 1919; John Corse Scott (1854-1919) of Synton, Ashkirk died 29 March 1919, aged 64, at Meadow House, St Boswells

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

The editors have not taken a traditionalist approach to transcription, instead ‘silently’ expanding abbreviations such as Rd or St and most place names. The editors have also added or omitted punctuation and adjusted capitalisation with as light a touch as seems concomitant with comprehension and ease of reading while maintaining the ‘feel’ of the journal.

In line with standard practice square brackets have been used to indicate more significant editorial insertions. It has not been felt necessary to footnote references to frequently occurring individuals every time they appear but, in order to support new readers’ understanding, such biographical footnotes are repeated from time to time.

The provision of an image of each entry below the transcript makes it relatively easy to see where transcription differs from a purist approach.

In almost five years of transcripts the editors believe that there has only been one redaction (for a term which, though once in common use, is now best omitted) but if one is called for again in future it will be suitably footnoted.

Frost continues but though cold it was a better day. Calmer + a good deal of sunshine. In fact it was a brilliant morning. Less doing. No County work. Saw about a dozen cases including Hospital to which D [Dr David Graham] has sent a boy Anderson with Flue [sic]. Continued writing out names + addresses on bill heads. To facilitate the getting out of accounts¹. Asked Bowling Club. if they would be willing to pay part of wall².

¹ There are some apparently superfluous stops in this entry which have been retained but see Blog #2 ‘Editorial practice for transcription of Dr Muir’s diaries’ of today’s date for a comment on editorial standards

² See diary entry for 24 March 1919 for reference to the rebuilding of the front wall; the bowling green in Scott’s Place (still there) shared a wall with Dr Muir’s house

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

A gale from NW to N raged all day but it was not a bitterly cold as yesterday. W wind + there was rain although the glass was very low. There was a fair town list today but no County work except that Dav [Dr David Graham] was at Newtown + called at Briarbank. I cycled to Hospital + Goslaw Green + saw the other town cases walking making in all 19 calls. David came up to tea + we went over the various cases + arranged certain fees. Helen [Muir] was at a Child Welfare lecture of Nurse Beck. Wrote Harvey, Liverpool and Allan, Ardrossan a second time re Pilot.

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

No frost but, although round to W the wind was most bitterly cold. It kept dry however, except for a few flakes of snow till night where it rained. I got on to my bike + went to Heatherlieburn (Ger. measles), Forest Road, Gibson + Lumgair, Hospital &c. Then walked to Hill Street, Byethorn + Backrow + at 1.20 motored to Lilliesleaf to see Jessie Law. Called at Mark Woodger. Wrote Dora + gave her Harvey + Caton’s opinions re Pilot. Helen had tea at Viewfield + went to a concert with Mrs Mackintosh + Agnes.

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

Frost but less severe: a very little more snow. Milder during the day + fresh at night. No fall during the day. Some sunshine. David [Graham] reports all the operation cases doing well. Message to Lyle, ??? Motored there early + saw Jess [?] Linton, Oakwood. Came back to Mauldsheugh + from there walked to Buccleuch Road, Heathermill, ?, ?, ?, Hospital, Curror Street. Saw some more cases after lunch. D went to Ashkirk Manse + Synton Mill + in afternoon to Edinburgh. Helen [Muir] had Norah [Graham] at tea. This was D + N’s marriage day 3 years ago.

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

Linton has begun to rebuild wall at front garden

Wintery [?] weather continues. More snow lying this morning + a heavy shower while we were at breakfast. It was a hard frost all day but with some sunshine. Now + then a few isolated flakes of snow floated down. Was I was not out of town. David [Graham] over at Sunderland Hall + Waverley Hydro. Helen [Muir – see 23 March] better + up. Had another letter from Caton re [Dr] Pilot giving a very unsatisfactory account of him.

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

Hard frost + a clear sunny day. Most of the snow melted off the streets but there are lots lying on the grass + behind walls &c. Had a busy day at Mauldsheugh¹. Began at 10 with glands in a Miss Lee’s neck: then Agnes Murray ditto: then Bob Douglas the undertaker for piles + then a child with hernia + 2 boys (Park + Mellan [?]) with adenoids. I had some lunch there + then saw some town cases. Went to evening service. Mousey² was in bed all day with a cold.

¹ Andrew Gray Lumgair’s old house, named ‘Mauldshaugh’ on the 1918 and 1920 Valuation Rolls (though it is ‘Mauldsheugh’ on the 25″ Ordnance Survey Selkirkshire Sheet XII.5 of 1899 and the editor’s reading of the house name in the diaries matches this) is shown as tenanted by Dr David Charteris Graham so the co-partnership appears to have been based there..

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

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

Was knocked up last night about Willie [?] Shank (postman’s son), Tower Street. Saw him early + asked D [Dr David Graham, co-partner) to see him. We decided it was a case for immediate operation + he was taken down to Mauldsheugh. It was the worst case D has done yet. The appendix was enormously enlarged + contained a hard mass of faeces which I thought at first was an orange pip. I saw 16 town cases afterwards. D went to Sunderland Hall + S Common. Got a letter from Wm. Harvey re Pilot which does not tend to improve remove the suspicion I have formed about him.

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