Dull mild + damp with less more wind than yesterday + a sensation of rain. My side still improving. Motored to Ashybank, Buccleuch Road, Rockville and Woll Rigg. After lunch walked round Skely Brig¹ + Greenhead.² Saw Paterson³ at Shawbrae⁴ erecting a wireless apparatus. Hiddleston⁵ also has one + told me that he had heard quite clearly a concert in Paris + another in Birmingham!

¹ A knowledgeable reader has informed the Editor that the Skeely [Skelly/ie] Brig crossed the Dean Burn on the road from Selkirk past Buxton to Greenhead at approximate grid reference NGR NT485,287. The Dean Burn, also known as the Skilly (or Skeely) Burn, subsequently skirts the southern boundary of Shawpark, and is marked as the Shaw Burn immediately after it crosses to the north of the road from Scott’s Place to Half Crown Corner and Lindean Moor Farm. The best view is on Ordnance Survey 25 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XII.5 (Selkirk), surveyed 1858, published 1860.

² Greenhead, Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT491,293, visible on Ordnance Survey 6” Selkirkshire Sheet XII.NW, published 1900.

³ Presumably John Stewart Paterson (1889-1978), general engineer, who was recorded as living with his widowed mother Kate Lawson Paterson née Lawson (about 1856-1933), at Shawbrae Cottage in the 1921 Census. She was the widow of Alexander Paterson (about 1834-?), printer. [sources: 1921 Paterson, Kate Lawson (Census 778/ 15/ 3) Page 3 of 6, and Statutory BMDs].

⁴ Shawbrae is beyond Selkirk Cemetery on the same side of the road but was not named in the Valuation Rolls until later in the 1920s when it was recorded as owned by Selkirk Parish Council, tenant Mrs Kate Paterson, widow [1926 Valuation Rolls VR011700009-/588, Selkirk County, page 588 of 605].

⁵ John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954), L.R.C.P.S., L.R.F.P.S., medical practitioner.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Scaffolding away from new building of Royal Bank in High Street

Some hoar frost bright + sunny up till midday then dull + inclined to drizzle: calm S.W. My side slowly improving : walked round town, Dandswall Lodge, Linglie Mill, Buccleuch Road [and] Hill Street. In afternoon marked out paid accounts + posted the day book for November. Helen¹ came back by last train. I went down to meet her but she came up in a taxi she had ordered! + I missed her. Letter from Mr Armstrong² re the Concert for Nursing Fund³

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

² Assume William Armstrong who had gifted a nurse’s house on the Green, Selkirk to Selkirk Town Council for the use of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute for Nurses, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 November 1922.

³ On 30 November 1922 Dr Muir had presided at a Jubilee Nurses Concert held at the Victoria Hall at which William Armstrong’s gift had been acknowledged.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Dull mild calm misty [with] a little white frost in morning. E. [wind]. Feeling my side rather less : detected the slight crepitation again. Gave Mrs Geo. Douglas, Chapel Street¹ her 3^rd dose of Autogenous Vaccine² + walked down to Ashybank. Went to forenoon service. Heard Ross³ rather better.⁴ Was not out again till I went down to Wellwood⁵ for supper. Brough [sic] Summary + record cards up to actual date. Ordered 60 gallons petrol + paid C. T. C. subscription.⁶

¹ Assume Georgina Douglas née Henderson (1883-1924) of 19 Chapel Street, Selkirk, wife of George Douglas, woollen mill worker, married 14 November 1913 at Selkirk.

² See Dr Muir’s diary entry for 3 December 1922.

³ The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister, who moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

⁴ Dr Muir had complained about his hearing on a number of (usually public) occasions. He seems to hear some people better than others.

⁵ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of the Roberts family.

⁶ The Editor cannot identify this organisation but it is presumably a centralised fuel supplier.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

This morning in bed I thought (indeed I am sure) I felt a distinct click over my painful rib on inspiration so I really think the bone itself has been injured. On the whole the pain was not so bad today though bad enough. I saw a few cases walking+ then motored to Hospital, Linglie + Riverside Mill, Forest Road, Buccleuch Road, Fairnilee Cottages, Caddonfoot, Ettrick Road + Kilncroft + then got a message to Barrie, Newarkburn + motored there.¹ Helen² went to Edinburgh till Monday.

¹ Alexander Wilson Barrie (1885-1961), herd for the Duke of Buccleuch, was Tenant Occupier of a house at Newarkburn and at Shepherd’s House, Newarkburn, 1921 Census; born 6 September 1885 at Walston, Lanarks [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/376, Selkirk County, page 376 of 611].

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

My side was so painful that I didn’t go out. Did some work on Summary Cards + Record envelopes. David¹ looked in twice. He is going to shoot with Dees² again tomorrow. Johnny Murray³ called to say he had got a customer for Helen’s bicycle.⁴ I have ordered a Raleigh for her with 3 speed gears. + hope she will have it at Xmas.

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

² Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923), anded proprietor, formerly a marine engineer, he was the son of James William Dees and Eliza Jane Irwin and lived at Faldonside, Galashiels.

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

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

My side worse + after seeing a few cases walking. I had to knock off. During the night turning in bed was very painful + I couldn’t lie on my right side. I took out some teeth for the epileptic boy Turnbull¹ + saw 8 other cases. Kept quiet all afternoon + felt able to dine at Shawpark.² It was Helen’s birthday³ Nancy + Louise⁴ (who is supposed to be quarantined for measles) were there. It was raining at night + was damp all day.

¹ Turnbull is unidentified.

² It is not clear whom Dr Muir was dining with from the reference to Shawpark.

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

⁴ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), one of Dr Muir’s granddaughters.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

My right side feeling rather painful as a result, I suppose, of a pull I got on Saturday getting over a wire fence. I motored to Woll Rigg + took out 2 stitches from Dewar’s hand.¹ [text deleted] Came back by Hartwoodmyres + went to Doig’s funeral which was a midday one + largely attended.² Henderson³, Somerville⁴, McLay⁵, Kennedy⁶ + Menzies⁷ were there. I felt very stiff + sore + movements caused by coughing + using my right arm were painful. It was a dry rather pleasant day.

¹ William Dewar, Woll Rigg, Ashkirk, who had his hand lacerated when sawing a branch off a tree. William Dewar, manager, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house known as Wollrig, Ashkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/355, Selkirk County, page 355 of 611].

² William Doig (1859-1922), M.B., M.D. (Edin.), of Roxburgh Street, Galashiels [Galashiels Almanac and Directory] and at Bridge Street, Galashiels [1920 Valuation Roll]. Born 25 Jun 1859, died 3 Dec 1922. Married to Jane Wilhelmina Gibson. Statutory BMDs and The Doig Family Society https://www.doig.net/DAVE1750.htm Scottish Medical Service Emergency Committee Intimation, 1916, SMC/3/4/1/3 5:6, states “16 Bridge Street, Galashiels, Major RAMCT, The above-mentioned Practitioner is on Service as stated”

³ Percy James Henderson (1871-1935), M.B., medical practitioner, at Church Street, Galashiels, 1920 Valuation Roll; married 1892, Edinburgh, Annie or Hannah Jane Millin.

⁴ James William Somerville (1866-1934), medical practitioner, of Galashiels, son of Robert Somerville (about 1835-1905), J.P., M.D., F.R.S.C.E., medical practitioner, of Galashiels.

⁵ Kenneth McLay (1889-1964), M.D., D.P.H., medical practitioner at Galashiels from about 1921; later chairman of the Borders Board of Management.

⁶ 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 but by June 1921 recorded in a similar role in Croydon, Surrey (1921 Census taken 19 June 1921).

⁷ James Morris Menzies (1871-1926), M.B., Ch.M., M.D., medical practitioner, of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Dull blowy day W. [wind] with some heavy rain in afternoon: fair at night. Several minor at Home including removal of a … + part of a little finger in Peter Henry.¹ Finished my Summary cards + extracted … … Helen² had Miss Chrystal^3 up from Melrose + went to the Picture Ho. with Mrs Mack⁴ + Mrs Simpson.⁵ Doig, Galashiels died yesterday.⁶

¹ Peter Henry (1880-1924), farm servant and ploughman, born 1880, Legerwood, Berwickshire, who was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house at Deepslaids, Selkirk, 1922 and who was recorded as ploughman at Fauldshope, Kirkhope on the 1911 Census and this seems to be corroborated by the birth record of Margaret Henry in 1902 at Mortonhall, Melrose where the couple had married the month before her birth [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/375, Selkirk County, page 375 of 611; 1911 Census 776/ 3/ 4, page 4 of 8; Margaret’s birth 1902 Henry, Margaret, Statutory registers Births 799/1 25); parents’ marriage Henry, Peter and Black, Anne Patterson, 1902, 799/1 3, Melrose] his birth, 1880, 749/ 4, Legerwood, Berwickshire; his death Henry, Peter, aged 44, 1924, 778/ 57, Selkirk.

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

³ Assume Alice Margaret Wilkie Chrystal (1872-1948), daughter of the Reverend James Robert Chrystal and Margaret Sophia Chrystal née Riddell [sources: birth 1872, 419/ 8, Cults (Fife); death 1948, 427/ 21, Elie, Fife].

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

⁵ Margaret ‘Maggie’ Simpson née Watson, later Watson-Simpson (1857-1939), sister of Mrs Mack; the daughter of Sir John Watson, 1st Baronet and Agnes Watson née Simpson, she had married, 1877, James Cowie Simpson (d.1906), mining engineer.

⁶ William Doig (1859-1922), M.B., M.D. (Edin.), of Roxburgh Street, Galashiels [Galashiels Almanac and Directory] and at Bridge Street, Galashiels [1920 Valuation Roll]. Born 25 June 1859, died 3 December 1922, he was married to Jane Wilhelmina Gibson.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

There was a little sunshine in the forenoon but it clouded over. Damp + mild. Was called out before breakfast to Tom Murray, Rosemount.¹ He died in the forenoon of Fibre Sarcoma of liver. Dav.² did laparotomy on him about three weeks ago.³ I motored to Woll Rigg. Took one of the stitches out of Dewar’s hand.⁴ Mousey⁵ cycled to Melrose to tell Mrs Kennedy⁶ about a servant. Nancy⁷ called to say there was measles at Louisa’s School + she is to be quarantined.⁸ Letter from Jean rather sad.⁹

¹ Thomas Murray (1866-1922), woollen pattern weaver, of 3 Tower Terrace, Selkirk, died December 1922, at 26 Hillside Terrace, Selkirk, the home of John Murray, cycle engineer; Thomas was the son of John Murray, millwright, later engineer, and Barbara Murray nee Inglis, married 1865, Selkirk. aged 56, of Fibro Sarcoma of liver 2 months as certified by John S Muir [1922 Statutory registers Deaths 778/ 88]. In 1911 he was head of household at 3 Tower Terrace, Selkirk with his mother aet 70 and sisters Lizzie 40 and Maggie 30.

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

³ See diary entry for 6 November 1922.

⁴ William Dewar, manager, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house known as Wollrig, Ashkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/355, Selkirk County, page 355 of 611].

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

⁶ Assume Mary Balfour Kennedy née Alison (1889-1978), wife of William Nicol Watson Kennedy, medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire circa 1921 but by June 1921 recorded in a similar role in Croydon, Surrey (1921 Census taken 19 June 1921).

⁷ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and wife of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior.

⁸ Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), daughter of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir.

⁹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, widowed in late 1921.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Complete contrast to yesterday + not a ray of sunshine all day, but calm + mild. Gave Mrs Douglas, Chapel Street¹ her second dose of vaccine²: saw Tom Murray, Rosemount,³ who was sinking. Cycled down Forest Road + on to Nest + Caddonfoot. Went to evening service. Jack, Nancy⁴ + Mrs Mack⁵ came to supper. Saw Tom Murray before church.

¹ Assume Georgina Douglas née Henderson (1883-1924) of 19 Chapel Street, Selkirk, wife of George Douglas, woollen mill worker, married 14 November 1913 at Selkirk.

2 Autogenous vaccines were introduced in the early twentieth century working on the principle of stimulating an individual’s own immune system to protect against an infectious pathogen.

³ Thomas Murray (1866-1922), woollen pattern weaver, in the 1911 Census he was recorded as head of household at 3 Tower Terrace, Selkirk with his mother aet 70 and sisters Lizzie, 40 and Maggie, 30.

⁴ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]