Same dry clear frosty weather. It was extraordinary to see the cars [?] raising clouds of dust. Message to Faldonside as I thought for Jessie B¹. but it turned out to be for Kate Duff². I motored down + then out to Whitmuirhall + Whitmuir to distribute communion cards to Mrs Hunter³ + a girl Dodds⁴ domestic at Whitmuirhall, the Halls⁵ + the Harvey’s⁶ at Whitmuir. Spent a lot of time taking swabs from the Borthwick family⁷ + sending them away. Kennedy⁸ is now sending them to Edinburgh. Helen⁹ cycled to Melrose. I wrote Barbara¹⁰.

¹ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

² Kate Duff is not identified

³ Mrs Hunter is not identified

⁴ Dodds is not identified

⁵ William Hall, dairyman, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated at Whitmuir [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/333, Selkirk County, page 333 of 611]

⁶ John Lawson Harvey, ploughman, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated at Whitmuir [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/333, Selkirk County, page 333 of 611]

⁷ The Borthwick family is not (yet) identified though there is a number of entries of that name in the 1921 Valuation Roll

⁸ Kennedy is not identified

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

¹⁰ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s granddaughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Keen frost again + a sunny calm crisp day: just like Armistice day 3 years ago but for the temperature. I cycled to Heatherlie the Bank + paid … +c, Mrs [illegible], Yarrow Terrace +c + went to a short service in the Parish Church at 11.45, then down Forest Road to Tweed / Linglie Mills + Hospital where I was a good while making out returns of discharged cases for Kennedy¹. In the afternoon delivered my communion cards + called for Ellie Adams² about whom I had got a long letter from Robertson³.

¹ Kennedy is not identified though a Dr Kennedy was Dr Muir’s guest at the B.M.A. dinner [see 16 November 1921 diary entry]

² On 14 September 1921 Dr Muir wrote in his diary that Ellie Adams was going “melancholy mad”; Ellie (about 1881-) seems to have been living with her mother, Janet Adams, who was tenant at Ettrick Lodge, Ettrick Terrace, 1921 Valuation Roll and she had been described as a student teacher of Commercial Bank House, Selkirk on the 1911 Census

³ George Matthew Robertson (1864-1932), M.D., LL.D., F.R.C.P. Edin., Physician-Superintendent of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Mental and Nervous Disorders and Professor of Psychiatry in the University of Edinburgh; his address was Tipperlinn House, Morningside Place, Edinburgh

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

It was milder this morning + the frost appeared to be gone but towards night it became clearer + sharper again. I saw a town list of 12 + the Hospital where I met Eason¹ & Beattie about the gas meter. I paid Lothian Coal Co. £233. 2. 6 for 10 tons of coal. Sent subscription of £1 to the Earl Haig’s Fund² for ex-service men + to the Russian “Save the Children” fund³. Jean⁴ wrote that Kenneth’s⁵ sister Mrs Gallop⁶ is coming to help there. Made out some more accounts.

¹ David Easson was the ‘gas manager’ of the Selkirk Gas Light Co. [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/211, Selkirk Burgh, page 211 of 644]

² The Earl Haig Fund was established in 1921 when Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig agreed to adopt the poppy as the symbol of the Royal British Legion

³ The Editor can only quote with gratitude Rodney Breen, Archivist to The Save the Children Fund, in ‘Saving enemy children: Save the Children’s Russian relief operation, 1921-23’ where he notes that:
“When the Russian harvest failed in 1921, the economy had been devastated by years of disasters. Appeals were made to the outside world, and Save the Children was one of the main agencies to respond. Despite reservations about supporting the Soviets, a major advertising campaign was launched, raising large sums of money which were used to open feeding centres in the face of adverse climate and a devastated infrastructure. Facing some critical press coverage, the Fund used advanced media techniques to get its message across. By summer 1923, the famine was over and the Fund had succeeded in feeding up to 675,000 people.”
[Breen R. Saving enemy children: Save the Children’s Russian relief operation, 1921-23. Disasters. 1994 Sep;18(3):221-37. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7717.1994.tb00309.x. PMID: 7953492.]

⁴ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

⁵ Frederick Charles Pike (1883-1921), had married Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir in 1920 at Newington, Edinburgh but by late 1921 he was gravely ill

⁶ Esther Annie Gallop née Pike (1880-1962), born Little Canford, Dorset, married 1908, Wimborne, Dorset, John Winston Gallop [marriage Wimborne 5a 611]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Very hard frost: red sky, dull day. W. wind. Dry. Some snow on Eildons + all hills above Foulshiels white. Mrs Geo. Smith¹ doing well. Cycled in town + over to Ashiestiel to see Jenny Smith² who is rather better. Worked on accounts in the afternoon. Helen³ cycled to Ovenscloss about the Girl Guides⁴. Dora⁵ writes that she is willing to go to Jean⁶.

¹ Jean Robertson Smith née Hardie, wife of George Smith, see diary entries for 7 and 8 November 1921

² Jenny Locke Smith (1882-1952), daughter of Thomas Smith and Katie Smith née Locke

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

⁴ The connection between Ovenscloss and Girl Guiding has not been definitively established but there is a 1945 reference to Mrs Muriel Scott Plummer (whose husband was Proprietor at Ovenscloss in 1921), presenting an award at a Girl Guides’ event [Southern Reporter, Thursday 5 July 1945]

⁵ Dr Muir had asked (7 November diary) Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), his youngest daughter and a nurse, to assist her sister Jean whose husband Frederick Charles Pike was gravely ill

⁶ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Slept in the arm chair in the Smoke Room + was called over to Viewfield at 4.30. Mrs Smith had a d.¹[daughter] (c. + s.) at 5.15. Did not go back to bed but had a hot bath. Found the management of the maternity business at Viewfield most satisfactory. Cycled to Hill Street, Lauriston (Mrs Smith² very worried with …³), Yarrowford (ditto [?] report on Geo. Rutherford⁴) + back to Forest Road and Hospital. Very cold dry frost. Dust actually blowing about N.E. Dav.⁵ called with a slice of a 20lb fish Burns Lindow⁶ had caught.

¹ Kathleen Hope Smith, later Thomson, born 8 November 1921, at Viewfield, daughter of George Smith, joiner, and Jean Robertson Smith née Hardie who had married 1920 at Selkirk [birth, 1921, 778/ 102, Selkirk; marriage, 1920, 778/ 48, Selkirk]; a correspondent tells me that Kathleen is still living in Selkirk

² Katie Smith née Locke (about 1854-1934), widow of Thomas Smith, tweed manufacturer

³ The Editor guesses that this must refer to Mrs Smith’s own health (see reference in diary entry for 9 November 1921) or perhaps this is a reference to a member of staff who is giving concern

⁴ George Rutherford (about 1850-1921), roadman, was Tenant of a house at Yarrowford [1921 Valuation Rolls, VR011700009-/339, Selkirk County, page 339 of 611]

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁶ Isaac William Burns-Lindow (about 1868-1946), D.S.O., army officer and tenant at Yair Mansion and Yair Bridge, including shootings and fishings [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/306, Selkirk County, page 306 of 611]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Hard frost: sharp dry day N. [wind]. Was called up at 5 a.m. to see old Mrs Johnstone¹, the slater’s widow, in Forest Road who had an attack of angina pectoris. Gave her a hypo of morphia. Was rather late for breakfast. Saw 8 cases + Hospital walking. Wrote Dora² asking her to come + help Jean³: ordered 3 bottles [of] whisky from Sanderson⁴ for Pike⁵ + also sent A. K. H. Tot.⁶ + caps Amyl nitrite⁷. Made out some accounts. H.⁸ went to Picture Ho. with Mrs Mack⁹. At 10 p.m. had to get Mrs Geo. Smith¹⁰ into Viewfield for her confinement which I didn’t expect till the end of the month.

¹ Mrs Margaret Johnstone née Redpath (about 1847-1922), widow of John Johnstone (about 1842-1904), master slater [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/165, Selkirk Burgh, page 165 of 644]

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

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

⁴ Conceivably William Sanderson & Son Ltd., distillers, Leith

⁵ Frederick Charles Pike (1883-1921), theatrical agent, married Dr Muir’s daughter Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir in 1920 but was gravely ill by this time

⁶ AKH has been referred to previously but is not (yet) identified

⁷ Amyl nitrite capsules were manufactured by Burroughs Wellcome & Co. for, amongst other things, the relief of Angina pectoris

⁸ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

¹⁰ Jean Robertson Hardie had married George Smith, joiner, 1920, at Selkirk [marriage, 1920, 778/ 48, Selkirk]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Motored to Edinburgh to see Pike¹. Left at 10.30 + had a good run via Gala. The road is in Capital order. It was dry + cold + some snow on the higher hills. Jean² is now at 15 Lutton Place. I found Pike looking very ill + worn + I fear the worst. Poor Jean was very sad. I had some lunch + a talk. Left at 2.30. Called for Dr Blaikie³ who attends Pike + stopped at Hospital getting home at 5. Went to evening service. Helen⁴ went to Moffat with Jack⁵ to bring back Nancy⁶.

¹ Frederick Charles Pike (1883-1921), had married Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir in 1920 at Newington, Edinburgh but by late 1921 he was gravely ill

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

³ This appears to be Robert Henry Blaikie (about 1857-1933), M.D., F.R.C.S.E., medical practitioner, at Mayfield Gardens, [Newington] Edinburgh [1925 Valuation Roll, VR010000491-/48, Edinburgh Burgh, page 48 of 264, also 1921]

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

⁵ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, and Dr Muir’s son-in-law

⁶ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Cold dry day till even night when there was some heavy rain. There is nothing for me now but pottering round the town. Three more cases¹ admitted to Hospital² + one dismissed. Winifred Armitage³ left this morning. Helen⁴ went to Galashiels with her.

¹ There was a long-standing outbreak of Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever in Selkirk, through a large part on 1921 and into the following year

² It might reasonably be assumed that the Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever cases would be treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at the north end of the Selkirk Hills but Dr Muir seems to have used the word interchangeably for Mauldsheugh and that isolation unit

³ Margaret Winifred Armitage (1874-1970), daughter of William Armitage, cotton merchant, and Margaret Petrie Armitage; her sister Dorothy had married Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer, son of the Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir Dr Muir’s brother, and thus Dr Muir’s nephew

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Most extraordinary + sudden change to a mild warm atmosphere this morning + again to cold at night. What a climate! I walked down to Hospital¹ + up by Sloethornbank + Pinegrove². Gave Chlor[oform] for a couple of operations at Viewfield³. Attended meeting of the subscribers to our Hospital Fund⁴ at 3.30 where subscriptions to £213 were announced. Dees⁵ was there + gave £10. A Committee was [? formed] viz: Gibson⁶, Whitehope, Charlie Roberts⁷, 2 ladies [gap left in text] + Dundas⁸ as Treasurer + Sec.

¹ Mauldsheugh, named ‘Mauldshaugh’ on the 1918 and 1920 Valuation Rolls, was Andrew Gray Lumgair’s old house later tenanted by Dr David Charteris Graham and used as his home and as the Medical Partnership’s hospital, the Editor assumes therefore that this is the ‘Hospital’ referred to frequently in the diaries (and sometimes at the same time as Viewfield, so they are clearly undertaking different functions for Muir & Graham); there is a reference, 29 January 1919 “He was taken to Mauldsheugh where he was operated on by Mr Fraser at 5. I gave Chlor[oform]. Fraser is a beautiful operator + the result was successful in the removal of an inflamed appendix.” [Heritage Hub SBA/657/22/15]

² Pinegrove, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk does not appear to be recorded as a property name in the Valuation Rolls

³ Viewfield Nursing Home

⁴ Viewfield relied upon fund-raising until the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948

⁵ Assume Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1943), who had inherited approximately £90,000 on the death of his uncle Robert Richardson Dees, solicitor, of Wallsend, in 1908 and had taken the tenancy of Faldonside in 1920

⁶ Not identified, whether connected to Whitehope or otherwise

⁷ Charles Henry ‘Charlie‘ Roberts (1877-1954), tweed manufacturer

⁸ Assume Dundas William Claxton (1887-1968), solicitor, sometime County Clerk for Selkirkshire

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

It was lucky we took our run yesterday for today was wet + Misty + equally cold. Yesterday we saw the hill tops quite well. Winifred¹ kept her bed. Helen² went to Gilmanscleuch to lunch. I saw a bigger town list than usual which took me till 2.30 + I had to go down to Sloethornbank after lunch. I was about 1¹/₂ hours at the Hospital going over the swabs³ (dates) 4 went out yesterday + 2 today leaving 15 Diph. + 3 Scarlets. I have been elected as a representative of County Panel Committees on the Scottish sub-committee⁴.

¹ Margaret Winifred Armitage (1874-1970), who had a very cold day out the preceding day, was the daughter of William Armitage, cotton merchant, and Margaret Petrie Armitage; her sister Dorothy had married Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer, son of the Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir Dr Muir’s brother, and thus Dr Muir’s nephew

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

³ There was a long-standing outbreak of Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever in Selkirk, through a large part on 1921 and into the following year

⁴ It is not immediately clear what Dr Muir’s appointment was unless it was to the Rural sub-committee

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]