A most welcome blaze of sunlight this morning + all forenoon it was very pleasant but it gradually got duller + then rained again. Met Dav.¹ at Isaac Piercy’s² where he curetted Mrs P.³ Then I was at Viewfield⁴ from 11 till 3.20. Dav. operated on Mrs Fowler⁵ for appendicitis + then a short circuit for a (probably) malignant condition.⁶ Then he did an appendicitis on Mrs Lumgair’s cook aet 60.⁷ Cycled to Shawpark + gave Boylan an enema.⁸ Helen⁹ was at Melrose seeing Kennedys¹⁰ + Chrystals.¹¹ Mrs Mack¹² capped all previous gifts by giving me lib. triginti!¹³

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

² Isaac Piercy (1888-1973), woollen yarn storeman, living at 8 Raeburn Place, Selkirk (though there were two other individuals named Isaac Piercy in the 1921 Census – Isaac Alexander Piercy junior (1920-1979), son of Isaac Piercy above and Isaac Douglas Piercy (1908-1979).

³ Margaret Piercy née Brown (1889-1973), wife of Isaac Piercy (1888-1973), woollen yarn storeman [marriage: Piercy, Isaac and Brown, Margaret, 1910, 778 / 25, Selkirk].

⁴ Viewfield Nursing Home, the Muir & Graham medical co-partnership’s property.

⁵ Mrs Fowler is probably Janet Fowler née Latto (1868-1924), wife of William Fowler (about 1863-1933), Inspector of Poor and Registrar, Selkirk.

⁶ Janet Fowler was later diagnosed with tuberculosis of the caecum so presumably the “short circuit” was an colon resection of some sort.

⁷ Conceivably Mary Morton (1869-1930), Kirkcudbrightshire-born “cook” at The Priory, Ettrick Road, Selkirk in the 1921 Census (though in that case Dr Muir has misjudged her age).

⁸ John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer and acquaintance of Dr Muir, of Shawpark, Selkirk.

⁹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

¹⁰ The Kennedy family comprised William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961), O.B.E., M.D. Edinburgh, M.R.C.P.Ed., D.P.E., medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire, circa 1921, his wife Mary Balfour Alison and their sons Ian Alexander Kennedy (1916-1988) and Charles Gordon Kennedy (1920-). [Caveat Emptor: There is a problem with this identification because some evidence suggests that Kennedy had already moved to Croydon.]

¹¹ The Reverend James Robert Chrystal (about 1840-1930), Congregational Church minister, and his daughter Alice Margaret Wilkie Chrystal (1872-1948) [1921 Census]. His wife Margaret Sophia Chrystal née Riddell had died in 1913.

¹² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

¹³ The Editor does not have the Classical knowledge to interpret this text but the consensus is that this is not a reference to 30 pounds or 30 books! Information would be gratefully received.

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

Actually dry this morning! But it began to rain a little in afternoon. Darling Dora¹ left today. I went with Jack, Nancy² + Mack³ (Jack motoring us) to a performance of “Merrie England” at Gala⁴ + saw Dora off by the last train with Miss Donald⁵. Helen⁶ came with her by the Selkirk train. I said my real good-bye to her here. We may possibly not meet again but God knows. I cycled (first time since Feb. 9^th) to Curror Street + Shawpark + twice to bank. Gave Do. £5 as a parting gift. Attended meeting of Red X Society.⁷ Couldn’t hear the woman speak.

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, travelled to Port Said (بورسعيد , Egypt) with Isabella Donald [see footnote 5] on S.S. Oxfordshire, official number 131454, Liverpool – Marseilles – Port Said – Colombo – Rangoon, departing Liverpool 2 March 1923 [source: UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, Liverpool, 2 March 1923].

² John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

³ Assume Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, though Dr Muir has never previously described her thus.

⁴ Galashiels Amateur Operatic Society put on six performances of the musical comedy ‘Merrie England’ by Edward German (1862-1936) and Basil Hood (1864-1917) at the Playhouse, Galashiels from 26 February to 3 March 1923 [Southern Reporter].

⁵ Isabella Donald (1876-), nurse, sometime of Ashwood, Galashiels home of her sister Margaret Meikle ‘Peggy’ Brown née Donald (1885-1960) who had married James Douglas Brown of Ashwood in 1918. Isabella was travelling to Port Said (بورسعيد , Egypt) with Dora Muir [see footnote 1] on S.S. Oxfordshire, official number 131454, Liverpool – Marseilles – Port Said – Colombo – Rangoon, departing Liverpool 2 March 1923 [UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, Liverpool, 2 March 1923].

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

⁷ Red Cross Society.

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

Same dull damp sunless weather: fair till 2 + rain after : heavy at night. Calm : no snow visible on Linglie but numerous wreaths on Selkirk Hill. Saw some cases walking + gave Chlor[oform] for case of appendicitis (Mrs Douglas¹, Heatherlie [?]). Motored to Faldonside, Hospital + Henhouse. Wrote Thin² (re expense of guests at last Friday’s dinner³), Caird⁴ (who sent me some original verses), Margaret Boyd⁵ + Bramwell.⁶ Got combination that Robert Currie⁷ got made for me at Hawick.⁸

¹ Mrs Douglas is so far unidentified.

² Assume Robert Thin (1861-1941), M.B., F.R.CP.Ed., LL.D., medical practitioner, living at 25 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, 1921 Census. The youngest surviving son of James Thin, master bookseller, and Catherine Thin née Traquair, he started his career as house surgeon to Professor John Chiene, was then House Physician to Dr John Wylie at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Lauriston Place, before moving to the Sick Children’s Hospital, Edinburgh and later to general practice, he was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1931-1933.

³ If expense is the correct reading it is not clear what the question might be but there is a description of the clinical meeting of the Edinburgh Branch of the British Medical Association and a brief reference to the dinner in “Scotland” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3250, 1923, pp. 653–653. JSTOR, accessed 23 Feb. 2023.

⁴ Assume Professor Francis Mitchell Caird (1853-1926), F.R.C.S.Ed., Scottish surgeon who was an early advocate of Listerian antisepsis and then asepsis and pioneer of gastrointestinal surgery. Regius Professor of Clinical Surgery at the University of Edinburgh, 1908-1919, and was President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 1912-1914.

⁵ Margaret Boyd (if that reading is correct) is so far unidentified and nobody with a similar name was referred to in the report of The British Medical Journal noted above.

⁶ Assume Professor Edwin ‘Ed’ Bramwell (1873-1952), M.B., Ch.B., F.R.C.P.E., Scottish neurologist, specialist in brain injuries and shell-shock and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1933-1935.

⁷ The likeliest matches are either Robert Currie ‘junior’ (about 1847-1923) or Robert Currie (1874-1934), woollen hosiery manufacturers. They were the fourth and fifth of five generations of Curries at Selkirk with the given name Robert.

⁸ Presumably through Currie’s connections to the hosiery trade. Hawick was the dominant centre of hosiery manufacturing although even by the 1860s firms such as William Watson and Sons were dropping hosiery manufacture in favour of weaving. Others however stuck with hosiery, as shown in the 1914-18 War image below.

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

No snow visible from here except a wreath in Broomhill but there are numerous wreaths on the hills. It was milder today + not so wet but it rained both forenoon + after. Made 15 calls including Ettrick + St Mary’s Mill + Henhouse. At 4.45 got message from Mauldsheugh for Thomson, Yair Bridge. Motored over getting there at 5.10 to find a baby had arrived at 4.14¹ + nurse had arranged everything. Nancy² + Mrs Mack³ came to dinner.

Bar. 27.95.

¹ This is an odd reference and tends to confirm the theory that Dr Muir was sometimes writing up events only vaguely remembered. The best match here is Muriel Baird, born 27 February 1923 at Yair, daughter of William Baird, butler, and Hariet [sic] Baird née MacNiven, married March Quarter 1920 at Paddington, Middlesex, Registration District. The Thomson referred to must surely be Alexander William Thomson who had been born 15 February 1923 at Selkirk Road, Clovenfords, son of William Thomson, journeyman gardener, and Janet Thomson née Crawford, married 27 July 1909 at Edinburgh.

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and wife of John Roberts junior.

³ 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]

There was just a handful of snow at each gate. A dismal day of incessant heavy rain from S. E. until 3 p.m. Walked to Curror Street, Ettrickbank Mill¹ (where the owner + manager Mr Clifford² introduced himself), Kilncroft [and] Forest Road. My feet + stockings were so wet that I had to change! Walked also to Shawpark after tea +c, Viewfield + Castle Street. Saw Murray³ about getting a Singer.⁴ Letter from Willie Rodger.⁵

¹ Ettrick Bank Mill, previously Bannerfield Mill and later renamed Corbie Linn Mill [J R Hume, ‘The industrial archaeology of Scotland, 1, Lowlands and Borders’, London, 1976 and Scottish Borders Council Museum Service, ‘The Little Guide to Selkirk Mills’, Selkirk, c.2000].

² Clifford is so far unidentified.

³ Murray is John Inglis Murray (1869-1950), motor and cycle mechanic, partner in Stark & Murray who looked after Dr Muir’s bicycles.

⁴ The Singer Cycle Company also Singer & Co. Ltd. was a cycle manufacturer connected to car and motorcycle production of the same name but with no link to the sewing machine business. A progressive company, George Singer patented curved cycle forks. [Kevin Atkinson, ‘The Singer Story: The Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Bicycles & Motorcycles’, 2013, Veloce Publishing Ltd]

⁵ Assume William Brydone ‘Willie’ Rodger (1880-1959), son of George Rodger (about 1843-1885), solicitor, and Isabella Margaret or Maggie Rodger née Brydone. Born Selkirk, he was later a stockbroker (admitted to the London Stock Exchange, 1904, at which time he lived at Redcliffe Square, Earls Court, Kensington) and was at Sevenoaks, Kent, 1911 Census and at Trey Lodge, Malling, Kent, 1939 England and Wales Register.

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

Raining steadily till evening. Snow disappeared more rapidly. Lots of drifts on hills still. Motored to Mavisbank, Faldonside, Bridgelands + Henhouse.¹ In house all afternoon. Went to evening service. A W Gilchrist, a [illegible] missionary addressed us.² This was the conclusion of a missionary week here + at Galashiels. Supped at Wellwood.³

¹ Henhouse is beyond the south end of Haining Loch, Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT469,271.

² Gilchrist is so far unidentified.

³ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), wife of John Roberts junior.

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

Snow disappearing very very slowly. Too calm for a fresh thaw but it was quite fair though sunless. Saw 3 town cases + then motored to Crook Cottage¹ to see a tramp Bernard Duffy² with varicose [i.e. venous] ulcers [?]. There was a message which fortunately Dav.³ gave me before I started to see Thomson, Ramseycleuch.⁴ Stapley⁵ brought the tramp down here + we got him into the Gala Poorhouse. Walked in afternoon to Mavisbank, Curror Street [and] Shawpark. Cath. + Helen Smith⁶ came to supper.

¹ Crook Cottage, Overkirkhope, Ettrick.

² It is a wild conjecture but it is conceivable that this refers to the Bernard Duffy, aged 52, pedlar, who was recorded at a lodging house at Munches Street, Dumfries in the 1921 Census.

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁴ William Thomson (about 1856-1924) was Head of Household at Ramsaycleuch [sic], Ettrick [1921 Census] and living with his sons George Thomson and William Alfred Thomson, farmers, who were the tenants at Ramseycleuch, Ettrick, 1925 Valuation Roll.

⁵ Angus Harry Stapley (1867-1937), certificated teacher, born Leith and living at Ettrick Schoolhouse with his wife Catherine Bayne Stapley née Barton, died Gordon, Berwickshire [sources: statutory BMDs; 1911 and 1921 Census returns].

⁶ Catherine Adam ‘Cath’ Smith (1874-1929) and Helen Mary Locke Smith (1878-1958), daughters of Thomas Smith, tweed manufacturer, and Katie Smith née Locke.

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

In Ed. at Branch clinical meeting + dinner. Went in by 10.13. Thaw continuing: calm fair, roads very muddy. Quite a nice day in Ed. + streets dry. Spent half an hour in Nat, Gallery + saw my old friends “Oberon + Titania”¹ + Etty’s big pictures ²: saw “The Fast Mail” at Picture House ³ + got some lunch. Then walked via Castle Terrace + Lauriston to R. I. ⁴ where at 3.30 I took the chair at clinical meeting where some 24 cases were shown in the theatre. Then I called for Julia Pringle⁵ whom I found in bed. She has been ill with boils + is taking a rest. Was in chair at Branch dinner at the Caley⁶ at 6.30. Bolam of Newcastle⁷ – Chairman of Council – on my right + McTice, President of Fife Branch⁸ on left. Tally 30 present. Pleasant evening. Caird⁹ proposed my health. I recited “Border Land” + “Adams Request”¹⁰ + gave a short sketch of Roger Quin.¹¹ Told the Wilfred Lawson story, the Duke’s soliloquy and the Dalgleishhope episode.¹² + came out by last train.

¹ Perhaps ‘The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania’, 1849, by Sir Joseph Noel Paton (1821-1901) which “was judged to be ‘picture of the season’ when exhibited in Edinburgh in 1850” [National Galleries of Scotland] but just conceivably its partner image ‘The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania’, 1847, though this was originally purchased by the Royal Scottish Academy 1848 and was “transferred and presented to the National Gallery of Scotland 1910” [National Galleries of Scotland].

² William Etty (1787-1849), R.A.

³ ‘The Fast Mail’, 1922, was an American silent melodrama film (now lost) directed by Bernard J Durning and starring Buck Jones and Eileen Percy. It was produced and distributed by the Fox Film Corporation.

⁴ Dr Muir appears to have approached the Royal Infirmary in Lauriston Place around the south west side of Edinburgh Castle via either the Castle grounds or West Princes Street Gardens.

⁵ There is a good chance that this refers to Dr Julia Letitia Pringle (1878-1960), M.B. Ch.B., who studied medicine at the Medical College for Women, Edinburgh, graduating in 1903. In the 1921 Census she was recorded at 24 Forfar Road, Dundee, a “medical practitioner” [see also Dr Muir’s diary entries for 23 February 1919 and 20 February 2023].

⁶ The Caledonian Station Hotel, Edinburgh. There is a description of the clinical meeting and a brief reference to the dinner in “Scotland” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3250, 1923, pp. 653–653. JSTOR, accessed 23 Feb. 2023.

⁸ McTice has not yet been identified.

⁷ Sir Robert Alfred Bolam (1871-1939), O.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P., medical practitioner, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and heavily involved in the British Medical Association and the General Medical Council. He was Chair of Council of the British Medical Association, 1920-1927 and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, 1936-1937. [Br Med J 1939;1:953 and Royal College of Physicians ‘Sir Robert Alfred Bolam’].

⁹ Francis Mitchell Caird (1853-1926, medical practitioner, sometime Regius Professor of Clinic Surgery at Edinburgh University and near-contemporary of Dr Muir at Edinburgh medical school.

¹⁰ Neither poem of ballad has been identified, though both have been recited by Dr Muir previously. Borderland by Henry Lawson (1867-1922) is a possibility: “I am back from up the country, very sorry that I went, | Seeking for the Southern poets’ land whereon to pitch my tent; | I have lost a lot of idols, which were broken on the track, | Burnt a lot of fancy verses, and I’m glad that I am back.”

¹¹ Roger or Rodger Quin or Quinn (1850-1925), Dumfries-born but staying at this time in Selkirkshire and known as the Tramp Bard or Homeless Poet.

¹² The Editor assumes that the Wilfred Lawson story, the Duke’s soliloquy and the Dalgleishhope episode are separate but in any case all three are unidentified.

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

Calm [word deleted] slow thaw. The sun came out for a while + melted some snow. There was wind S.E. I made 14 calls including Gib. + Lum.¹ + Shawpark.² Helen³ + Dora⁴ went over to Galashiels to see Miss Donald⁵ + Bella⁶ was out so I had a cosy time in the kitchen reading. Helen went to a meeting in the West U.F. Church.

¹ Gibson & Lumgair Ltd., woollen textile manufacturer, at St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk.

² Shawpark, Shawpark Road, Selkirk, home of John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, voluble friend of Dr Muir [1921 Census and 1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/375, Selkirk County].

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

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.

⁵ Miss Donald appears to be Isabella Smillie Donald (1876-1956), nurse, sister of Mrs Peggy Brown. Born Greenock, Renfrewshire, sometime of Ashwood, Galashiels, she travelled to Egypt with Dora Muir on 2 March 1923 [see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 1 March 1923].

⁶ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), the Muir family housekeeper, daughter of James Paulin, groom, and Grace Paulin née Cranston, born Ladykirk, Berwickshire [Sources include: ‘A Souter’s Bairn, recollections of life in Selkirk’ by Jenny Corbett with Avril Jack, published Selkirk Common Good Fund, 1993].

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

Fine snow falling + drifting at first but it faired by 11 + seemed fresher. S.S.E. [wind] Walked to Mavisbank, Curror Street, Backrow, Southport + Victoria Crescent + then motored to Foulford¹, Sundhope, Gordon Arms + Henderland. The only bad drift was between Bengerburn + the school + fortunately the plough had just been through. Dorothy Barrie² was pretty much exhausted when she got home yesterday but had a good night. I got back at 4.10. H.³ + D.⁴ were at Wellwood⁵ for tea.

¹ Foulford is unidentified.

² This appears to be Christina Dorothy Barrie (1904-1994) who lived at Sundhope, Yarrow and had been in Viewfield Nursing home since January 1923.

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

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.

⁵ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), wife of John Roberts junior.

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