What a May! It was dull at first with wind round to N.E. + cold with slight drizzle but it gradually got worse + ended in heavy sleet here + snow above Yarrowford. I motored to Henderland + got the full benefit of it. Jas. Mitchell better.¹ The competition in the motor trial² came over Falla + down Moffat on their way to Hawick + Dumfries, but they were past before I got to Henderland. Gave Chlor[oform] to May McKay³ + D.⁴ did a [illegible] fixation + (accidentally) removed her appendix while he had the abdomen open! [illegible text] Nurse Beck’s⁵ rectum.

¹ The Editor assumes that this refers to James Mitchell senior (about 1854-1929), farmer and tenant at Henderland Farm, Megget parish. Dr Muir had been attending the Mitchell family at Henderland, Megget, north of St Mary’s Loch, since late 1921. In the 1921 Census the family comprised James Mitchell senior aged 67, James Mitchell junior, 35, Mary Richardson Mitchell, 33, Eliza Dalgleish Mitchell, 25, and Isabella Shiel Mitchell, 26.

² The motor trial or rally does not appear to have been covered by the Southern Reporter.

³ May McKay is unidentified.

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁵ Elizabeth Fyfe Beck (1865-1954), nurse, born Dumfriesshire, died Ceres, Fife;. The Southern Reporter, 10 August 1916, describes her as a District Nurse at Selkirk before she was released to take up military nursing.

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

There was still a little hail lying on the roof of hayshed this morning. It was a cloudless, sunny, sharp morning + kept fair up till 1 + after that a very severe Sou Wester developed with heavy rain. At night again it was calm + clear. Motored to Hospital, Henderland (Jas. Mitchell, flue¹), Yarrow Mains, Broadmeadows Lodge + Newark Mill + after lunch Nether Whitlaw. Dav.² was in Edinburgh with Mrs Alex^r Roberts³. Helen⁴ with Nancy⁵ + Mrs Mack⁶ were all day at the sale of Broadmeadows furniture.⁷ Mrs Mack gave Helen a very handsome cut crystal fruit dish.

¹ Dr Muir had been attending the Mitchell family at Henderland, Megget, north of St Mary’s Loch, since late 1921, for more details of the family see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 9 May 1923.

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

³ Perhaps Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Roberts née Paterson, daughter of William Paterson of Galashiels, who had married, 14 June 1871, Alexander Fowler ‘Sandy’ Roberts (1844-1929). Note however that her husband was normally known as Sandy so the Editor cannot be completely confident in the identification.

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁵ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁶ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁷ Broadmeadows, Yarrowford, Selkirk, area of NT412,302 was reported as having been sold by Dr Muir’s co-parter David Charteris Graham, as noted in Dr Muir’s diary of 13 March 1923. This sale was obviously part of that process.

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

Dull showery morning + in the afternoon some thunder, heavy rain + a tremendous hail shower which left the ground white + the remains of which were [illegible] lying in the roof angles at night. I walked round town in the forenoon + at 1 got ‘Phone to James Mitchell, Henderland.¹ I very nearly cycled as it brightened up a little but was thankful that I didn’t. The hail + rain were much worse here than at the Loch + there was no sign of hail lying until we got to Broadmeadows.

¹ Dr Muir had been attending the Mitchell family at Henderland, Megget, north of St Mary’s Loch, since late 1921. In the 1921 Census the family comprised James Mitchell senior aged 67, James Mitchell junior, 35, Mary Richardson Mitchell, 33, Eliza Dalgleish Mitchell, 25, and Isabella Shiel Mitchell, 26.

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

Dull at first but a fine day with slight shower at 8. Bright + clear N.W. wind. Was called out hurriedly after breakfast for Mrs Jas. Thomson¹, Chapel Street, who had had pains. Saw her again. Effie Devine, Russell Cottage.² Cycled to Hospital + then went on over Rink, Clovenfords + Bowland to Stow + from there by Wooplaw + Langshaw + home by Boleside. 27.85.³ Took my tea above Wooplaw with fine views of Eildons, Cheviot +c. The road from a mile beyond Langshaw awfully cut up with traction engine traffic from a quarry where they have a stone-breaker.⁴

¹ Mrs James Thomson is so far unidentified.

² Effie Devine is so far unidentified. There were two individuals named Euphemia Devine in Scotland in 1921 (but no Devine names at all in Selkirkshire), both of a similar age (24 and 25) and from Lanarkshire (Dalziel and Garngadhill respectively) but there was nobody named Effie.

³ Dr Muir appears to have travelled via Rink, grid reference NGR NT482,323, to Clovenfords, NT449,364, then presumably taking the back road up the Caddon Water through NT423,380 and past Bowland roadend, NT442,400, to Stow, NT460,446, then climbing to Wooplaw, NT494,421, and Langshaw, NT516,396, before dropping to the River Tweed past Easter Langless and travelling home past Boleside, NT496,334, opposite Faldonside.

⁴ The Editor cannot find a quarry in that area.

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

Very fine day + just the right temperature. Saw eleven cases walking between 10 + 12 + then cycled to the Hospital. After lunch made out Factory + some other accounts.¹ Mended [?] the Ordnance map case.² Gave Chlor[oform] at 9.30 to Dundas’ second boy³ at Viewfield = a very acute case of appendicitis with rupture + peritonitis complicated with tubercular glands. We were almost 1½ hours over it.

¹ Evidently Dr Muir was still involved in factory inspection, part of his role as Medical Officer of Health.

² Dr Muir was probably planning to take the map case, presumably transparent and waterproof, with him on his holiday to Portsmouth.

³ James Strathearn Dundas (1918-1944), son of William Claxton Dundas, solicitor, and Jessie Dundas née Mackintosh. Born 1 May 1918, when Dr Muir attended after the event, James died 25 September 1944 at Arnhem and is commemorated as James Strathern [sic] Dundas, Service Number: 100912, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 7th (Airborne) Battalion, buried Netherlands, Gelderland, Arnhem, Oosterbeek War Cemetery, cemetery reference 2. C. 3.

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

A dull day with a little sunshine in the forenoon. Walked down to Hospital + then waited an hour for Graham¹ who had promised to see Mrs Dewar from Woll Rigg² at 11. Saw Mrs Emond, Southport³ + did nothing else. Went to evening service where Mr Cameron⁴ from Leith, who had assisted in the forenoon at Communion, preached on going more than the “first mile”. It was after the “first mile” that the effort became Christian.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner. It shows that Dr Muir is cross with him when he uses his surname.

² William Dewar, manager, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated at Wollrig, Ashkirk but his wife is so far unidentified (they were not at Ashkirk in the 1921 Census) [1923 Dewar, William, Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/407, Selkirk County, Page 407 of 605]. It is possibly Williamina Christina Crozier Dewar née Douglas who, with her family, was at Prieston Cottage, Bowden, in the 1921 Census.

³ Mrs William Emond, South Port whom Dr Muir described as “on the straw but still in fine shape at 7 p.m.” in his diary entry of 27 April 1923 and whose son William Angus Emond was born the same day at South Port, Selkirk.

⁴ Mr Cameron 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]

Still fine + moderately warm. I had quite a rigor last night when going to bed + had a rather restless night. Today in consequence I felt rather fagged. Was not out of the town + made 11 calls including Yarrow Terrace, Hospital + Shawpark. Met Boylan¹ walking at the Cemetery gate. Helen² motored to Kelso with Nancy³ to meet Jack⁴ + then went to Broadmeadows with them + Mrs Mack⁵ to inspect the furniture which will be sold next week.⁶ A case of Scarlet admitted to Hospital viz a girl Ingles, West Port.⁷

¹ John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, of Shawpark, Selkirk, an acquaintance of Dr Muir who was present when Boylan had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

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

³ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁴ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), woollen manufacturer and Nancy’s husband.

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

⁶ Broadmeadows, Yarrowford, Selkirk, area of NT412,302 was reported as having been sold by Dr Muir’s co-parter David Charteris Graham, as noted in Dr Muir’s diary of 13 March 1923. Hugo C Lang (not otherwise identified, though the Lang family was well-known locally) was recorded as Proprietor Occupier of Broadmeadows House, Selkirk in the 1923 Valuation Roll but the Broadmeadows estate was thereafter apparently acquired by Robert Stewart, farmer.

⁷ Assume Janet Dalgleish Ingles (1910-1997), of 1 West Port, daughter of Robert Ingles, tobacconist, and Jane Scott Douglas Ingles née Bell, married 16 July 1908.

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

A nice day but not quite as genial as yesterday. Bright morning: but duller after, with some mist which again cleared away. S.W. [wind] strongish. Cycled immediately after breakfast to Woll¹ where the little girl had a Paronychia.² Was at Viewfield³ from 11 till 2 giving Chlor[oform] for a hernia, ditto Symes [illegible]⁴ + a cervical gland. After lunch cycled to Hospital, Cannon Street, Yarrow Terrace + Deepslade.⁵ Had a letter from Fanny at Eastbourne⁶ in which she speaks of Mrs Sprot.⁷ Fanny has been pretty ill. Letter from Dora⁸ + P.C. [postcard] which cost 1^d½.

¹ William Scott Bell and his family were at the Woll, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire in the 1921 Census and the Valuation Rolls but none of his household could be described as a “little girl”.

² Paronychia is infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail.

³ Viewfield was the Muir & Graham medical practice’s nursing home.

⁴ The Editor speculates that this refers to the eponymous operation of James Syme (1799–1870), Scottish medical practitioner and surgeon.

⁵ Dr Muir had attended the Henry family at Deepslaids, Selkirk (on the south side of the Common) the day before, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 3 May 1923.

⁶ Frances Gordon ‘Fanny’ Ord MacKenzie née Rennie (1864-1948), the recently widowed daughter of the Reverend James Rennie and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir and thus Dr Muir’s niece. Her husband Montagu Allan Ord Mackenzie (1854-1923), East India merchant and banker, son of William Ord Mackenzie of Culbo, M.D., Deputy-Inspector-General of Army Hospitals, had died at Eastbourne on 1 February 1923, as noted in Dr Muir’s diary of the same day.

⁷ Dr Muir had been in postal communication with Mrs Sprot around 29 April 1923, presumably one of the Sprots of Riddell, Lilliesleaf. It may become clear in due course to precisely whom Dr Muir is referring to here.

⁸ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

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

A touch of summer at last. Lovely brilliant morning + a delicious soft [text deleted] air at first N.W. + then S.W. I saw 4 cases + then cycled to Forest Terrace, Ettrick + St Mary’s Mills + on to Upper Faldonside Lodge where I returned Mrs Graham¹ her handkerchief. Then I went on through Melrose to Maxton + up past Muirhouselaw + took my lunch at Downlaw² where I have never been before. Found my Thermos smashed + a lot of the tea lost.³ My new carrier⁴ is a failure [?]. Came back by Sandystones + Midlem to Deepslade⁵ to see a child Henry.⁶ Got back a little after 6. Hot bath. M 31.8.

¹ Minnie Meikle Graham née Morrison lost a newborn baby on the night of 14/15 April 1923 and Dr Muir does not appear to have seen her since, so it is impossible to know if this is a thoughtful or a deeply insensitive gesture.

² Dr Muir stayed on the south side of the River Tweed to the eastern end of Maxton where he turned south east to Muirhouselaw, grid reference NGR NT629,285, and on towards Down Law, NT637,268.

³ The old-style glass thermos must have been a nightmare to cycle with. Dr Muir had smashed one previously, on a trip to Lauder 10 September 1914, see Diary entries, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, 7-12 September 1914.

⁴ On 4 April 2023 Dr Muir reported that Stark and Murray had supplied his new Singer with a “stupid little carrier” and on 10 April to getting a “front carrier + cyclometer” but evidently the, supposedly better, replacement didn’t save his flask.

⁵ Dr Muir came home via Sandystones, NT595,266, Midlem, NT527,274, and Deepslaids, on Selkirk Common, NT486,268, following a route between Sandystones and Midlem which the Editor cannot even guess at.

⁶ The Henry family had four sons and daughters in 1921, though only two might be described as children by 1923: Alexander Kitchener Henry (1916-) and Elizabeth Wright Henry (1918-). Their father, Peter Henry (1880-1924), ploughman, later dairy vanman, was the Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Deepslaids, Selkirk from at least 1921 until 1924 after which date his widow Agnes Dempster Henry née Craik took on the property. Born West Morriston, Legerwood, Berwickshire, Peter Henry died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 25 August 1924 at Deepslaids, aged 44, and his death was certified by Dr Muir.

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

Fine day but wind round to N.E. again. Had splendid sleep + feel very fit. Cycled to Fairholme¹ which has been sold to Mrs McGown.² Went by Yarrow Terrace + Earlsheugh.³ Distributed Communion cards in afternoon + cycled to Whitmuirhall to say adieu to the Dunlops.⁴ Found Kate⁵ there. Helen⁶ was over at Galashiels at a Girl Guide [illegible]. Got prospectus of Cremation Society in Glasgow.⁷ Some clothes that were being cleaned arrived from Turnbull.⁸

¹ The property was only called Fairholme with the purchase by the McGown. Previously owned by the Jane Kennedy Mitchell and not apparently named Fairholme until 1923 (though the Editor has previously noted a delay between places being described as something and it showing in the Valuation records). [Source: 1922 Mitchell, Jane Kennedy, Valuation Rolls VR011700009-/374, Selkirk County, page 374 of 605].

² Agnes Jane Macgown appears as Proprietor / Occupier of Fairholme from the 1923 Valuation Roll [1923 Macgown, Agnes Jane, Valuation Rolls VR011700009-/426, Selkirk County, page 426 of 605].

³ Earlsheugh is presumably a house name but it does not appear in the Valuation Rolls around this time.

⁴ The Dunlop family, merchants, seem to have split their lives between the Scottish Borders and Yorkshire but their time at Whitmuirhall seems to have come to an end quite soon after the death of Charles Walter Dunlop in 1922.

⁵ Katherine Mary ‘Kate’ Dunlop (1874-1944), daughter of Charles Walter Dunlop and Edith Dunlop née Sugden. A nurse about whom Dr Muir, as Commandant of the Selkirkshire Voluntary Aid Detachment, noted in his diary in 1915 “Kate Dunlop has come out top at an exam. with 94%”. She died 16 September 1944 at Hoscote, Roberton, Roxburghshire, aged 70, a “Nurse (retired)” and the informant was her brother John Dunlop [source: 1944 Dunlop, Katherine Mary, Statutory registers Deaths 802/B 9].

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁷ According to the Cremation Society “In 1891 a society had been formed in Glasgow to be known as the Scottish Burial Reform and Cremation Society for the purpose of advocating “Simplicity in funerals and to provide for those who may declare their preference for it”” and by 1904 Glasgow had one of the nine crematoria in operation in Great Britain [source: https://www.cremation.org.uk/history-of-cremation-in-the-united-kingdom%5D.

⁸ Assume Turnbull’s of Hawick (John Turnbull & Sons Ltd. at Slitrig Crescent, Hawick) who operated a large scale laundry and dry-cleaning service including services by post and rail.

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