Mrs Harper’s engagement to Mackintosh¹ all the talk.

Was called up at 1.15 a.m. to see Jas. Scott’s wife, Tait’s Hill.² It was blowing hard + raining. Nurse called me up to see Jean³ about [?] 3. No signs of snow this morning. Wind still high from N.W. + N. + blasts of rain. Jean had a quiet night but was worse all day. Her temp. rose to 104.5 + the sputum was very red. I asked Meikle⁴ to see her + he came about 1. She had a very uneasy day + at night was so restless that I gave her 10 grs trional. I was very little out today, saw 2 – 3 cases in forenoon + in afternoon had to go down to Curror Street + in evening to Maryland.⁵ Jack + Nancy + Baby⁶ were up in afternoon.

¹ Agnes Harper née Watson (1859-1946), widow of Ebenezer Erskine Harper (about 1833-1899), sheriff substitute, was to marry Donald MacAndrew Mackintosh later in 1904 at Morningside, Edinburgh. After Donald Mackintosh’s death in 1917 Agnes became very close to (according to these diaries very likely intimate with) Dr John Stewart Muir, himself widowed with the death of Andrina Barbara Henderson Muir née Rodger in 1902.

² These two are so far unidentified.

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, later Pike (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, suffering from pneumonia at this time.

⁴ Robert William Meikle (1870-1962), L.R.C.P. Edinburgh, living at Gowanbrae, Selkirk around 1904 [sources: Medical Register 1903 and Valuation Rolls, 1904] but moved to England between 1908 and early 1911.

⁵ Kate Smith was Inhabitant Occupier at Maryland, Heatherlie, Selkirk, 1903 Valuation Rolls. It is possible that she is the same Kate Smith as the Selkirk-born individual recorded as a housemaid, aged 19, at Philiphaugh in the 1901 Census.

⁶ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their first child Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s first granddaughter.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Much colder today. Strong W. Gale. Very slight hail showers in forenoon but from 1 o’clock tremendous blizzards of snow. At 7 p.m. there was a heavy fall of snow which left the ground white but aft later it was raining. Jeannie¹ easier today after a very restless night. Her sputum was less rusty : breathing + pulse slower + pain gone. She was sick however + at night became so restless that I had to give her 10 grs Trional + 1/10 gr morph. Gave Agnes Bell² [from ?] [illegible] + extracted a lot of teeth. Cycled to Bowhill, Broadmeadows + Philiphaugh where I lunched. The Laidlaws of Kippielaw³ were there. Came home by Buccleuch Road + Hospital + saw a few town cases after. Jack⁴ rode Macaulay⁵ at the meet at Haining + followed a bit but had no run. Spring Holiday

¹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, later Pike (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, suffering from pneumonia at this time. The Editor has never seen her called Jeannie before.

² There were a number of individuals named Agnes Bell in the area and it has not so far been possible to match any to this reference.

3 John Thompson Laidlaw was pretty elusive. The best match is that he was away from Kippilaw, Bowden, Roxburghshire in 1901 and 1911 (though he and his wife were office bearers of the short-lived golf course on Bowden Common around 1901 and he appears in the Valuation Rolls around that time) but he and his wife – and a quite enormous household of visitors and domestic staff – are recorded at Kippilaw in 1921. They couple was John Laidlaw (1851-1929), electrical and mechanical engineer, and Elizabeth McArthur Caird Laidlaw née Mackinlay (1866-1932). [golf course information: Forgotten Greens of Scotland : Bowden Golf Club]

⁴ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Dr Muir’s son-in-law.

⁵ Macaulay was one of Dr Muir’s horses.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Dull morning + showery. Gale abated but there was rather more wind again at night. Jean¹ if anything easier : pain better. The pneumonia is confined to the left side but there is bronchitis on the right. I was pretty busy. Drove in forenoon to Heatherly [sic], Dunsdale, Hospital, Greenhead + Rockville². After lunch cycled to Whiterigg³ where Leila⁴ has shingles + I vaccinated also. Had fair run down in 45m but it took me 57 to come back. Found wire to Broadmeadows to pull tooth to Eddie Hamilton.⁵ Gave him Narcotile [?] but it did not work very well. Had some dinner there. Was met in Heatherly with a message to see John Simpson, Kilncroft, who is off his head.⁶ There was some rain when I was coming up from Bowden.

¹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, later Pike (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, suffering from pneumonia at this time.

² Rockville, No. 17 Hillside Terrace, much later occupied by Robert and Mary Currie and regularly attended by Dr Muir, does not appear under that name in the early 20th Century Valuation Rolls. This is not unusual, with new properties routinely experiencing a delay before their names appear in the Rolls.

³ Whiterigg, Bowden, grid reference NT56110,31430, proprietor John Corse Scott (1854-1919).

John Corse Scott suffered almost unbearable losses in the First World War and died not long after it. At the time Dr Muir noted “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 sons. I noted how broken down he looked on Tuesday week at Alex’s funeral.” [Dr Muir’s diary Saturday 29 March 1919.

The footnote at that time bears repetition “John Corse Scott (1854-1919) of Synton lost his daughter Violet Johnston Stewart 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 died on 29 March 1917 in Greece. John Scott’s other son-in-law Captain Ian Forbes Mackay was 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.” [see https://www.calmview.eu/HUBCAT/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=SBA657%2f22%2f23&pos=2%5D

⁴ Leila Jane Corse Scott (1889–1980), daughter of John Corse Scott and Esther Jane Robson Scott née Scott (1853–1910).

⁶ Dr Muir had been attending Edward William ‘Eddie Willie’ Hamilton (1893-), son of Charles Gipps Hamilton (1857–1955) and Anna Gertrude Montgomerie Hamilton née Lang (1864-1937).

⁷ John Simpson (about 1869-1904), master tailor and clothier, recorded at Kilncroft, Selkirk in the early 20th Century Valuation Rolls and in the 1901 Census with his wife Catherine Craig Johnstone and children John (1898-), Robert Johnstone (1899-) and William (1901-). Simpson died later in 1904 after being hit by a train whilst staying at an asylum.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Wind still very high but fell in the afternoon. Dear Jean¹, who has had a cough for some time + was out last night at a meeting of the G.F.S.² when a presentation was made to Miss Dunn³, developed symptoms of pneumonia this morning. Her temp. was 103.2. I got Nurse Taylor⁴, who was on holiday at Duns. She came at 12. I was in town + at Greenhead, Dandswall, Curror Street +c + after I drove to Broadmeadows + Yarrow Feus. After dinner had to go down to Bridgelands. Jean’s temp rose to 104°.

¹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, later Pike (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter.

² Assume The Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS – perhaps SGFS in Scotland), established 1875 to “provide friendship and support for the growing numbers of working-class country girls who were leaving home to take up employment in towns and cities.” Archives are held by The Women’s Library at the London School of Economics and at locations listed as related material at the same URL [sources are, Society: https://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/GFS/, and archives: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/9e3bee7a-6881-43ef-91e9-1ff7116b4f4a%5D

³ The best fit here is Hyndmer Rutherford ‘Miss’ Dunn (about 1843-1922), daughter of John Dunn, chemist and druggist, and Hyndmer Rutherford Dunn née Hewat, and sister of Thomas ‘Tom’ Dunn (about 1844-1921).

⁴ Nurse Taylor is so far unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

A hurricane last night + gale very strong today + with occasional blasts of rain. Rivers in mid flood. After seeing one or two town cases drove to Sinton Mill + put up Willie Grieve’s fractured clavicle.¹ Then to Sinton to see Mrs Warwick + her daughter Rose a pupil of St Leonard’s, St Andrews.² Came round by Loan + Kirkwynd + right up to Broadmeadows where I had lunch at 2. Eddie Hamilton³ has measles + Willie Lang⁴ is threatened. Came back by Bridgelands to see Aunt Rodger.⁵ There was a shower of snow this morning.

¹ William Brodie ‘Willie’ Grieve (1868-), farmer, of Synton Mill, Ashkirk, had been in a collision while returning drunk from Selkirk Fair, see diary entry for 5 April 1904.

² Neither Mrs Warwick or her daughter have so far been identified.

³ Edward William ‘Eddie Willie’ Hamilton (1893-), son of Charles Gipps Hamilton (1857–1955) and Anna Gertrude Montgomerie Hamilton née Lang (1864-1937). Edward was therefore the grandson of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham.

⁴ Assume William Graham ‘Willie’ Lang (1856-1943), tea planter. Son of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham. Born 1856, Largs, Ayrshire, died 1943 at Harewoodglen, Selkirk, aged 87 (his death was certified by David Charteris Graham). He never married

⁵ It is difficult to be sure of the identity here because none of Dr Muir’s aunts was called Rodger. This must refer therefore either to an aunt of Andrina Barbara Henderson Rodger (1847–1902), Dr Muir’s wife, or to an aunt of their children. This may become clearer in due course (it is certainly a member of that family).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Gale continues very strong + more N.W. Murdoch¹ the stud groom Sunderland Hall had a cyst on his cheek incised. Drove round town + mills + up to Broadmeadows. Eddie Hamilton² is threatened with Rötheln. Willie Lang³ is also ailing. Miss Lang⁴ consulted me again about Cicely⁵ who has seen Sir T Barton⁶ in London re [?]. Right before lunch had to go out to South Common to see Willie Grieve, Sinton Mill⁷ who had got pitched out of his trap by colliding with a cart. He had been in to Selkirk Fair + was half tight. His left collar bone was fractured. Had to go over to Yair at 7 to see Mrs Hamilton.

¹ Thomas Murdoch, groom, lived at the stables at Sunderland Hall, Selkirk.

² Edward William Hamilton (1893-), son of Charles Gipps Hamilton
(1857–1955) and Anna Gertrude Montgomerie Hamilton née Lang (1864-1937). Edward was therefore the grandson of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham.

³ Assume William Graham ‘Willie’ Lang (1856-1943), tea planter. Son of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham. Born 1856, Largs, Ayrshire, died 1943 at Harewoodglen, Selkirk, aged 87 (his death was certified by David Charteris Graham). He never married.

⁴ Assume Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham.

⁵ Ciceley Jane Lang (1883-1951), daughter of Robert James Lang (1855–1914) and Jane Eliza Scott Plummer (1858–1901).

⁶ This medical practitioner is so far unidentified.

⁷ William Brodie ‘Willie’ Grieve (1868-), farmer, of Synton Mill, Ashkirk. He had married Margaret Maggie Inglis Common Grieve in 1901.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

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[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Strong gale from the W. Not much rain but rivers full from yesterday. Drove to Yarrowford = wire from Brunton.¹ It was to see a niece named Nancy Moffat² who has subacute rheumatism. Met Met Mrs + Miss L³ as I went up + was rather annoyed to get a wire when I got home asking me to go up. I had however first to go to Lilliesleaf which I did + saw the hounds in full cry at Riddell. They had met a Grundiston + run down country + found again at Newhouse. Did Broadmeadows in evening. Altogether I drove 45 miles : mare = 21½ + Macaulay 23½.⁴ Passed 6 Female [?] + the 2 first juveniles.⁵

¹ The ‘best guess’ is Adam Brunton of Catslackburn, Yarrow who was tenant of a cottage owned by Yarrow Parish Council.

² This may well be Agnes Elizabeth ‘Nancy’ Moffat (1886-), born Kirkpatrick Durham, Kirkcudbright but recorded in the 1901 Census at Yarrowford as servant to the Reverend Robert Borland (1844-1912) at Yarrow Manse. Borland was the author of ‘Yarrow Its Poets and Poetry’ and ‘James Hogg The Ettrick Shepherd’, a memorial volume.

³ Assume Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), of Broadmeadows, wife of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, and her daughter Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), who was later to take up cycling [see diary entry 13 May 1916],

⁴ This is the best evidence yet that Dr Muir’s travel was significantly if not mostly horse-drawn.

⁵ The Editor would be pleased to have suggestions what these were.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

The Editor finally managed to post a diary entry this evening but no thanks to WordPress. If anyone is thinking of a platform for a blog it is impossible to recommend WordPress. It was a good product when we started using it but WordPress’ mission latterly appears to be to complicate and downgrade, adding pointless tools and ruining useful ones. Avoid.

xxx xxx xxx.

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[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]