A most perfect day but I was obliged to keep bed most of it. I walked down to Hospital + along to Priory but felt very shivery + unwell. My temp. was 101° yesterday but only 100 today. Helen¹ cycled to Newhouse + Dora² to Yarrowford + Broadmeadows to enquire for the patients in the afternoon. Do. [Dora] + I did some posting [accounts].

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

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.

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

Calm today + very pleasant. Had Coryza last night + took a couple [?] + Heroin¹ which made me feel all right this morning but as the day went on I had a feeling of rigor + was + malaise. Drove round town in forenoon + to Hospital + Cannon Street. In afternoon visited a few workshops in connection with the new Workshops Act², with Pritty³ to talk measurement of cubic space. Went to bed at 5. Frank Scott’s son John died at the Hospital this evening of Scarlet Fever.⁴ It is the most malignant case I have had since the Hospital was opened.

¹ It is not clear what this combination was but in due course Dr Muir recorded the occasional user of Heroin and Cocaine pastilles.

² Assume The Factory and Workshop Act 1895.

³ John Pritty (about 1857-1920), Burgh Surveyor for Selkirk.

⁴ John Grierson Scott (1885-1904), died 23 March 1904, aged 18, of Scarlatina Maligna, at the Joint Fever Hospital, usual residence 25 High Street, Selkirk. An apprentice house painter, he was the son of Francis Napier ‘’Frank’ Scott, house painter, of High Street, Selkirk, and Catherine Scott née Grierson.

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

Wind at first S.W. but went round to N.W. and blew a gale with heavy blasts of rain at intervals. Some sun between. Went down to Hospital before breakfast to see John Scott.¹ His father went with him. Saw him in forenoon + again at night. He was delirious all day but less violent. Drove there, Buccleuch Road + Rockville. Heard from Meta [?] that Harry Shaw² is only relieved by morphia.

¹ John Grierson Scott (1885-), son of Francis Napier ‘Frank’ Scott, house painter, of High Street, Selkirk, and Catherine Scott née Grierson. His mother had died in childbirth and Francis had married again, in 1886, to Marion Bruce ‘Minnie’ Lumsden.

² Meta [?] and Harry Shaw are so far unidentified.

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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]

Splendid day with brilliant sunshine + drying N.W. wind. Saw 14 cases by 14.45 + then had a consultation with Pollok¹ about the inclusion of workshops +c in my annual report.² After lunch cycled to Hospital, Fairnilee, Sunderland, B’Meadows + Bowhill. Attended meeting of Public Health Committee in Pretty’s office³ at 7.30 about the Provost’s motion to have drains inspected + then went down to Hospital again to see John Scott who is very ill.⁴ His brother Walt. was admitted also.⁵

¹ John Pollok (1858-1938), solicitor, Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.

² Dr Muir was the Factory Inspector for Selkirk.

³ John Pritty (about 1857-1920), Burgh Surveyor for Selkirk.

⁴ John Grierson Scott (1885-), son of Francis Napier Scott, house painter, of High Street, Selkirk, and Catherine Scott née Grierson. His mother had died in childbirth and Francis had married again, in 1886, Marion Bruce ‘Minnie’ Lumsden. The family had been attended in connection with an outbreak of Scarlet Fever only the day before.

⁵ Walter Lumsden Scott (1889-), John’s brother, son of Francis Napier Scott, house painter, and Marion Bruce ‘Minnie’ Lumsden, married 1886.

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

Another dull drizzling day but less fog. Mild. After seeing a few town cases (including Mrs Blair, Tower Street¹ from who [sic] head I had excised a wen + F N Scott, 2 of whose kids have Scarlet F.²) I drove to Sinton to see Mrs Warwick.³ After dinner I walked to Cannon Street + Buccleuch Road. Attended evening service. Good many new cases. Nancy + Jack⁴ in Edinburgh with the McCregans.⁵

¹ Perhaps Agnes Moffat Blair née Hunter of Tower Street, Selkirk, wife of John Purvis Blair, flesher.

² Francis N Scott, house painter of High Street, Selkirk. He was married to Marion B L Scott née Lumsden and had four children, John G, Francis N, Walter Rb and Edith.

³ Dr Muir attended Mrs Warwick on 5 January 1904 about glass in her foot. She is is so far unidentified.

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

⁵ The Editor is grateful for a reader who suggests McCregan. The only problem with identification beyond this is that there is nobody named M’Cregan, McRegan or McCregan (or similar variants but with two g’s) recorded in Scotland in the 1901 Census.

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

Mild drizzling misty day. Saw town cases walking in forenoon + in afternoon drove to Middlestead + Hartwoodmyres.¹ Very thick Scotch mist on heights. Catherine Smith² came to supper. Dora³ helped me for a bit with the ledger + made three entries herself.

¹ Middlestead and Hartwoodmyres are both on the south side of Selkirk between the Ettrick Water and what is now the A7.

² Assume Catherine Adam ‘Cath’ Smith (1874-1929), daughter of Thomas Smith, tweed manufacturer, and Katie Smith née Locke. Born at The Thirladean, Selkirk.

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s third and youngest daughters.

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

Got home from Robin’s Nest¹ at 1 + found that Jean² had to get Wilson³ for Mrs Jo. Laidlaw, Haining Henhouse.⁴ Slight sprinkling of snow on ground which soon melted under a strong S.S.W. wind. Lay in bed to breakfast. Although roads were heavy I managed to cycle to Sinton, Henhouse, Sunderland + Fairnilee [sic]. Nancy⁵ + Jean drove to Whitehope to call. Lot of people in at night + I had to go to Middlestead to see Ritchie the dairyman.⁶ Called for Mrs Lawson⁷ + gave her 35/- I charged her instead of Rev. Lawson.⁸

¹ Dr Muir had been attending a birth the previous night in the Fairnilee and Nest area.

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter.

³ Assume Dr John Wilson (about 1873-1916), medical practitioner.

⁴ John Laidlaw junior was born 18 March 1904 at Haining Henhouse, Selkirk, the son of John Laidlaw, sawmiller, and Agnes Laidlaw née Taylor. The parents had married 10 July 1901 at St Andrews. The Laidlaws were at Haining Henhouse long-term and the entire family was recorded there in the 1921 Census.

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

⁶ William Ritchie was Inhabitant Occupier of a Farm House Middlestead, Selkirk in the 1903 and 1904 Valuation Rolls but was not there in 1901 or 1911 and is otherwise unidentified.

⁷ Unless the Reverend and Mrs Lawson kept the finances rigorously separate this could be any married woman named Lawson within the area of Dr Muir’s practice except Mrs Annie Strahan Lawson née Black (1867-1950), the wife of the Reverend George Lawson (1859-1937), see below.

⁸ The Reverend George Lawson (1859-1937), M.A., Church of Scotland minister at Selkirk from about 1902 to about 1930.

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

Knocked up at 4 a.m. for Mrs James Henderson, Dunsdale who had a daughter (breech) about 5.30.¹ Did some work at wages after getting home. Saw town cases walking in forenoon. Dunsdale, Bob Brown, Heatherlie² (incipient lunacy) + Hospital + had to see Mrs Steele, Backrow³ (who had attempted suicide by taking carbolic acid) to certify for asylum. After lunch drove to Riddell, Lilliesleaf + Newhouse. + at 7 was called by Mrs Smith, Fairnilea⁴ (about Roberts’ ? formerly with Steele⁵) who had a S. [son] about 11.⁶ Was at work from 4 a.m. on 17^th to 1 a.m. 18^th.

¹ Janet Fleming Henderson born 17 March 1904 at 20 Dunsdale Road, Selkirk, the daughter of James Henderson, tweed finisher, and Susan Henderson nee Purdie. Her parents had married in 1896 at Selkirk.

² Bob, presumably Robert, Brown is so far unidentified.

³ Marget [sic] Steele, aged 36, was recorded at Back Row, Selkirk, in the 1901 Census, with her husband Thomas Steele, 46, woollen spinner, and children Margaret, 9, George, 8, Maria, 6, Mary A, 4, and William, 2 months. There is something odd about this though because the births of the children, all recorded as born Selkirk, are not documented under that name.

⁴ This appears to refer to Smith at Elibank not Fairnilea, in which case Mrs Smith was Florence May Smith née [?] Wimble, wife of Joseph x Smith.

⁵ Presumably the Strang Steele family at Philiphaugh.

⁶ The birth is not recorded in the Statutory Births (at least not within a reasonable time of the 17 March) so the Editor can only assume it was not a live birth.

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

Mild dull day. Thick mist drizzle + finally rain after 2 o’clock. Roads at first drying became greasy. Rose at 5 + worked away at ledger. Did not go out till 11. Saw town cases walking before lunch. Called at Wellwood + saw Barbara¹ enjoying a haddock! In afternoon cycled to Bowhill + Broadmeadows. Discovered a tumour in old John Rutherford.² Left a hypo of Astrium [?].

¹ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts (1902-1996), daughter of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner, and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) of Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk. Barbara was Dr Muir’s first grandchild.

² John Rutherford, garden labourer, widow of Isabella Hogarth. He lived at Broadmeadows, Selkirk. He was 77. The 1901 Census locates him more precisely at Yarrow Road, Old Broadmeadows and living there with his daughter Betsy Rutherford, 57, described as “housekeeper”. He was recorded as born Mordington, Berwickshire and Betsy as born Melrose, Roxburghshire.

³ There are elusive references to the medical use of Astrium on the Internet that the Editor cannot resolve but nor is he particularly confident of the transcription here.

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

Rose at 5 + worked wages [?]

Fine day + some frost. Wind W.N.W. Was able to cycle to Ettrickbank, Sunderland, Blackhaugh + Broomhill.¹ Roads in fine order. Still a lot of snow on the hills. Mrs Pollok² has been down stairs for some weeks in the evening but has not been quite as well for the last 10 days. Saw a kingfisher at Yair.³

¹ The Editor does not routinely footnote locations but Blackhaugh, in Caddonfoot Parish, must have been on the very edge of Dr Muir’s practice. It is at grid reference NGR NT42355,38350, where a ford across the Caddon Water is clearly visible on Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet III.SE, published 1900. The proprietor was The Right Honourable Baroness Fanny G J Reay and the tenants of the various houses there included John Elliot, Walter Hogarth, George Paton, John Brockie and George Hope.

² Jane Pollok née MacLaurin or McLaurin (1856-1911), first wife of John Pollok (1858-1938), solicitor, Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.

³ Dr Muir would have been at Yair en route to or from Blackhaugh.

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