No apparent frost but a dusting of fine hail visible. S.W. at first but no warmth except in the sun. Duller in afternoon + slight shower. Walked to Hosp. +c + went to Viewfield at 11 when D.¹ removed a small ovarian cyst from a Mrs Robertson² from Gala + her left breast from poor Martha Ingles³. This took me till 2 [word deleted] when I cycled down to see Mrs Beattie⁴, Goslaw Green, who died at 5. I fell mounting my bicycle + hurt my right knee. Mrs Kennedy⁵ came here while her husband was lecturing + had supper + Kennedy⁶ came in + had a smoke + drink. Mrs K is a particularly lively person.

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

² Mrs Robertson is unidentified

³ Assume Martha Scott Ingles (1873-1945)

⁴ Mrs Helen Beattie née Lees (1861-1922), born 13 June 1861 at Henderson’s Court, Selkirk, died 11 April 1922 at 12 Goslaw Green, Selkirk, the daughter of William Lees, coal agent, later carter, and Margaret Lees née Lowrie, married 29 June 1850 at Selkirk; Helen Lees was married to Adam Beattie, woollen mill drawer

⁵ Mary Balfour Kennedy née Alison (b.1889), daughter of John Alison, teacher of Mathematics and Physics, and Margaret Jane Alison née Orr, had married William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961) on 27 February 1915 at Morningside United Free Church, Edinburgh

⁶ William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961), O.B.E., M.D., D.P.H. and Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer for Selkirkshire, 1921-about 1924

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

Frank Scott varnishing wood work of new basin in dressing room

Gross weight 11st. 3lbs net 10st. 5lbs 4oz

S.W. [wind] today: no hoar frost but temp. very little higher: dark morning some sunshine in afternoon. Great many trippers here it being Edin. + Gala. holiday. Saw a few town cases walking + cycled to Goslaw Green, Bridgelands, Faldonside + Peelburnfoot. Wrote out accounts in afternoon. Mrs Mack¹ called here to tell me that Napier² is at Thirlestane³ + Lady N.⁴ wants her to take Alistair⁵ to keep him away from his father. Sent card to Mrs Craig Brown⁶.

¹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, daughter of Sir John Watson, 1st Baronet and Agnes Watson née Simpson

² Francis Edward Basil Napier (1876-1941), 12th Lord Napier of Merchistoun and 3rd Lord Ettrick, J.P., Captain; soldier and courtier described at various times by Dr Muir as ‘The Weakling Lord’, ‘An Awful Ass’ or “Poltroon”; he appears to have been a constant irritant to Dr Muir who criticised him for evading military service, which he had indeed sought to do^*, and on 25 September 1919 Dr Muir, fed up that Lord Napier had upset Lady N. called him “… that prince of snobs and dipsomaniacs.”
^* Lord Napier was charged with being absent without leave but failed to show at his trial at the Sheriff Court on the 13th August 1917, was fined and entered Berwick Barracks a few days later as an ordinary soldier)

³ Thirlestane House, Ettrick, also Thirlestane Castle grid reference NT28126,15351, visible on the Ordnance Survey 6” Selkirkshire Sheet XVIII.NW, revised 1897, published 1900, Canmore ID 100390, now demolished

⁴ Clarice Jessie Evelyn Napier née Hamilton (1881-1951), Lady Napier, daughter of James Hamilton, 9th Lord Belhaven and Stenton and Georgina Hamilton née Watson (thus Mrs Mack’s niece); she had married, 1899, Francis Edward Basil Napier

⁵ The Hon. Alastair John George Malcolm Napier (1909-1984), son of Francis Edward Basil Napier, 12th Lord Napier of Merchistoun and the Hon. Clarice Jessie Evelyn Hamilton

⁶ Jane Craig Brown née Gray (about 1844-1928), widow of Thomas ‘T’ Craig Brown who had died at home on 8 April 1922

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

Another frosty night + a calm sunny day with the weathercock for a change at S.E! Walked down to Bridgelands¹ after breakfast + Hospital + went to morning service where Mr Ross² preached with reference to Palm Sunday. Got some writing done in afternoon. H.³ + I supped at Wellwood⁴.

¹ Bridgelands, Selkirk, where the Rodgers were proprietors but where Dr Muir had been attending a man called Hardie

² The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister

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

⁴ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

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

We were startled this morning by news of Craig Brown’s death¹. There was frost again + no sunshine. Very cold with a shower of sleet between 1 + 2. Motored to Bridgelands, Faldonside, Linglie + St. Mary [sic] Mills, Newburgh + Shaws. Swift² was going extra well. Was not out after lunch except to see a child Riddell³ in the Backrow with Scarlatina. Helen⁴ + Nancy⁵ were at Mrs Harkness⁶ for tea. Attended Mrs J Laidlaw (Maggie Bateman) who had a daughter⁷ (Chlor[oform] + forceps) at 9.45.

¹ Thomas ‘T’ Craig Brown (1844-1922), yarn manufacturer, antiquary and author of ‘The history of Selkirkshire or chronicles of Ettrick Forest’, 1886; the son of James Brown, newspaper proprietor, and Isabella Brown née Brown and husband of Jane Craig, he was born Galashiels, and died 7 April 1922 at Woodburn, Selkirk, aged 77, of cardiac failure

² The Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry; it is not clear which model Dr Muir owned of this small motor manufacturer’s many products but it had been the ‘workhorse’ car for the practice since Dr Muir had acquired it some time before August 1914

³ It is not possible to identify this child though John Riddell, millworker, was sometime tenant occupier at 94 Back Row, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/150, Selkirk Burgh, page 150 of 644]

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 Assume Isabella ‘Bell’ Harkness née Lockie (1859-1929), daughter of Hugh Lockie, woollen millworker, and Helen Lockie née Fairbairn, and married to John Harkness baker; her daughter Ella Fairbairn Harkness (1893-1915), woollen millworker, had died in 1915 aged 22 at Curror Street, Selkirk of phthisis pulmonalis 18 months, certified by Dr John S Muir and the Muir family appears to have kept in touch with Isabella in the years after – see for example Dr Muir’s diary entry for 15 January 1921

⁷ Joan Stewart Laidlaw (1922-1936) was born 8 April 1922 at 2 West Port, Selkirk, the daughter of John Alexander Laidlaw, grocer’s assistant, and Margaret Lothian Laidlaw née Bateman, married 28 December 1921 at Selkirk

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

Heavy hoar frost again followed by a bright sharp day getting decidedly milder in afternoon + colder again at night S.W. – N.W. – N.E. Was kept about 2 hours in the Surgery by a case of disloc. Shoulder in a Com. Trav. [commercial traveller] from Glasgow named Taylor¹. I failed to reduce it under Chlor[oform] + got Dav.² to help + he succeeded. Cycled to Forest Mill, Peelburnfoot, Faldonside + Bridgelands. Dav. had 2 operations at Viewfield Norah Ballard³ append. + girl Campbell⁴ for adenoma of breast. An anaesthetist from Ed[inburgh] Gibbs⁵ gave Ether.

¹ Taylor is unidentified

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

³ Assume Nora Ballard (1871-1949), twin daughter of George Alexander Ballard, Madras Civil Servant, and Julia Mary Ballard née Anderson, married 10 Sep 1861 at St Germains, Tranent, East Lothian

⁴ The girl Campbell is unidentified

⁵ The best fit is Frederick George Gibbs (1891-1960), surgeon, dentist and anesthetist, who was a medical student at 24 Minto Street, Edinburgh, 1911 Census, living with his father Frederick Gibbs (1865-1943), dentist, and his mother Margaret Lorimer; the Scottish Medical Service Emergency Committee recorded that during the First World War Frederick George Gibbs as a Temp. Lieutenant R.A.M.C. [Scottish Medical Service Emergency Committee SMC/3/4/1/5 1:4 https://smsec.rcpe.ac.uk/intimation-form/gibbs-frederick-george%5D

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

Saw a dandelion + some celandine on the roadside beyond Caddonfoot on Friday. No green on the hedges yet + grass going back.

Sharp hoar frost. Brilliant sunshine almost continuous. Very calm N. to N.W. Message to Joyce Dees¹, Faldonside. Cycled to Forest Road, Gib. + Lum. [Gibson & Lumgair, St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk], Faldonside [and] Peelburnfoot. In afternoon arranged town accounts for delivery. Forgot message to Hardie², Bridglands + Jo. Mitchell³ (Brit. Lin. Bank Mitchell) Bridge Street + cycled there in evening. Walked down to see Rob. Scott⁴, Mavisbank after dinner + found he had died at 3! Helen⁵ was taking part in a “Brownie Concert” in Church Hall in aid of Save the Children Fund⁶.

¹ Edith ‘Joyce’ Dees, later Beath (1908-1995), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson of Faldonside

² Perhaps James Hardie (about 1841-1922) of Bridgelands Lodge by Selkirk who was suffering from heart disease and senile debility (other members of the Hardie family stayed at Bridgelands so the identification cannot be definitive)

³ John Mitchell has not been identified though it may be possible to do so when the 1921 Census is published later this year

⁴ Robert Scott (1895-1922), woollen mill clerk and husband of Matilda Douglas Marshall died 6 April 1922 at 4a Mavisbank, Selkirk, aged 26, of “Pulmonary Tuberculosis 2 years” certified by John S Muir M.B.; he was the son of Andrew Scott, woollen mill foreman, and Janet Scott née Affleck

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

⁶ The ‘Save the Children Fund’ started by Eglantyne Jebb, London, 1919

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

Was called up at 4.20 for Mich. Glendinning¹ + had to empty his rectum

More sun today + almost a dead calm, though still N.E. Hoar frost but no fall. Saw Robert Scott² twice. He doesn’t look like living through the night. His wife³ was not so well + I saw her at night + gave her a hypo of Pituitrin⁴. Cycled to Heatherlieburn⁵, Forest Mill, Ettrick Mill + Hospital. Then to Sprot Homes⁶ + Lilliesleaf + after lunch to Peelburnfoot + back by Rink to Mavisbank = 30.25 miles⁷.

¹ Dr Muir had been attending Michael Glendinning (about 1839-1922), retired farmer and tenant occupier of a house and garden at Peelburnfoot, Caddonfoot parish

² Robert Scott (1895-1922), woollen mill clerk, died 6 April 1922 at 4a Mavisbank, Selkirk, aged 26, of “Pulmonary Tuberculosis 2 years” certified by John S Muir M.B.; he was the husband of Matilda Marshall and the father of Matilda who had been born two days previously

³ Matilda Douglas Scott née Marshall (1897-1957) never remarried

⁴ Readers should bear in mind that this may be seen as a bit of a non sequitur in this diary entry as Dr Muir is almost certainly treating her Postpartum rather than in relation to her husband’s illness, her baby Roberta Douglas Scott having been delivered by forceps only two days before; Pituitrin had a well known effect as a stimulant but was also used in the treatment of post-partum haemorrhage, see for example Gow, A. E. “A British Medical Association Lecture On Endocrinology From The Physician’s Point Of View.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 3303, BMJ, 1924, pp. 697–700, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20436390.

⁵ Heatherlieburn House, sometimes Heatherlie Burn, Heatherlie, Selkirk

⁶ A group of houses at Lilliesleaf known as Miss Frances Sprot Homes provided by the Miss Frances Sprot Trust

⁷ If readers are curious about Dr Muir’s accurate mileages they may like to know that Dr Muir was in the habit of using what he called a ‘Velometer’ (see his diary entry for 30 June 1919) which was probably a mechanical device and evidently, from Dr Muir’s comments, designed to work on a specific wheel size therefore presumably counting rotations

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

David¹ returned this morning with Norah² having come by night instead of today as he wrote me. Walked down after breakfast + saw him. He looks decidedly thinner but says he is quite well. Advised him to take it easier fear to no purpose. Walked to Heatherlieburn³ + Hospital. Had to [go] back there in evening for 2 cases of Diph. from Backrow = Macnamara⁴ + serum. Robt Scott⁵, Mavisbank, very ill + like dying. Snow + hail showers.

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

² Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner

³ Heatherlieburn (sometimes Heatherlie Burn) House, Heatherlie, Selkirk

⁴ Edward ‘Ed’ Macnamara, carter and Tenant Occupier of a house at 50 Back Row, Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/282, Selkirk Burgh, page 282 of 644]

⁵ Robert Scott (1895-1922), woollen mill clerk and husband of Matilda Douglas Marshall died 6 April 1922 at 4a Mavisbank, Selkirk, aged 26, of “Pulmonary Tuberculosis 2 years” certified by John S Muir M.B.

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

Kitchen + pantry sized + varnished.

Came back to breakfast from Mrs Robert Scott¹ + got her over (forceps) about 11. Motored down to Holydean² to see dear old Mrs Blaikie³ whom I haven’t seen for many years. Saw Mrs Jo. Lang⁴ + her daughter Diana⁵ + Miss Blaikie⁶. In afternoon motored to Beechwood, Peelburnfoot + Bridgelands. Saw 13 town cases. Weather cold but fair snow on Cheviots + high hills. It was clear + starry when I went out last night but when I returned at 7 a.m. it was snowing + there was another fall at night. Nancy⁷ returned tonight.

¹ Roberta Douglas Scott, born 3 April 1922 at 110 Forest Road, Selkirk, the daughter of Robert Scott, woollen mill clerk, and Matilda Douglas Scott née Marshall, married 21 November 1919 at Selkirk; Roberta Scott married Roger Charles F Archer in 1941 at Selkirk

² Holydean, Bowden, grid reference NGR NT537,302

³ Mrs Blaikie is presumably Helen Blaikie née Brunton (about 1838-1924), daughter of James Brunton, farmer, and Agnes Brunton née Stenhouse, and widow of William Lang Blaikie (about 1829-1894)

⁴ Mrs Jean ‘Jeannie’ Lang Lang née Blaikie (1867-1932), author, daughter of William Lang Blaikie and Helen Blaikie née Brunton, married 25 April 1860 at Edinburgh

⁵ Diana Lang (about 1902-), supposedly born New South Wales, is the daughter of John Lang (about 1849-1917), author, and Jean Lang née Blaikie (about 1868-1932), married 15 Apr 1901 at Crafers, Adelaide, South Australia

⁶ Miss Blaikie is perhaps Frances Margaret Brunton Blaikie (1869-), daughter of William Lang Blaikie and Helen Blaikie née Brunton, married 25 April 1860 at Edinburgh

⁷ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

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

Not quite so cold. Sunny at first dull later: dry: calm N. to E. [wind]. Message to Bella Mitchell¹, Newburgh. As I had to go to Drycleuchlee² tomorrow I did them both. Motored in M.C.³ first to Bridgelands + then to Oakwoodmill, Singlie Inch, Newburgh + near to Redford Green from which it is not more than a mile to Drycleuchlee. It was to certify a congenital imbecile Thos. Graham⁴. Came back quickly in the M.C. to Ettrickbridgend + called for Kerr⁵. Message to Reid⁶, Co-op. store manager boy [?] with Scarlet.⁷

¹ Assume Isabella Little Mitchell (1874-), born Ettrickbridge, daughter of James Mitchell, and Hellen Mitchell née Nichol, married November 1873 at Newburgh, Kirkhope, and still at Newburgh, 1911 Census, with her widowed father [776/2/4, page 4 of 7].

² Drycleuchlea or Drycleuchlee, grid reference NGR NT356,170, which Dr Muir has presumably reached via the track that runs east of West Redfordgreen, NT364,161, either parking there or on the road a little to the SSE, see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XVIII, published 1862.

³ M. C. is the Morris Cowley, purchased by the medical partnership in February 1922.

⁴ George Graham, farmer, was Tenant Occupier of a farm and house at Drycleuchlea, Kirkhope and in the 1911 Census the record for the Graham family at Drycleuchlea comprised George, aged 39, his mother Jemima, 76, sister Jane, 30, and brother Thomas, 36, who was described as “worker” and “feeble-minded” [Sources: 1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/320, Selkirk County, page 320 of 611; Census 1911 Graham, Thomas (Census 776/ 1/ 2) page 2 of 5].

⁵ John S Kerr, schoolmaster, was Tenant Occupier of a house and garden at Ettrickbridgend, Kirkhope [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/374, Selkirk County, page 374 of 611].

⁶ Assume George Reid, managing secretary of the Selkirk Co-op. Society Ltd., store manager boy [?] with Scarlet [VR007900012-/102, Selkirk Burgh, page 102 of 644].

⁷ The outbreak of Diphtheria and Scarletina was evidently still running after a year.

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