High Street east of Mungo Park being [continued opposite] tarmac’d: Dunsdale Rd finished

A day of constant drizzle + rain with which + an attack of dyspepsia I feel rather depressed + miserable. I gave Chlor[ofrom] to Mrs Adam Beattie¹ + David² operated on her for a swelling of the spleen which turned out malignant + inoperable. She was 2 hours under the anaesthetic. Afterwards I walked down to Dunsdale to see John Fairbairn³ + loafed in the house afterwards.

¹ Mrs Adam Beattie was Helen Beattie née Lees (about 1862-1922).

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

³ Assume John Falla Fairbairn (1868-1929), woollen drawer, who was tenant at 24 Dunsdale Road, Selkirk [1919 Valuation Roll, VR007900011-/729, Selkirk Burgh, page 729 of 786 and 1925 Valuation Roll, VR007900013-/97, Selkirk Burgh, page 97 of 315]

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

Delightfully warm day: glass gradually falling: some rain at night. Anniversary Services: [illegible word] Martin¹ officiated, a very fine preacher but I (+ others) lost a lot of what he said from the way he frequently dropped his voice. We supped at Elmpark² + met him + Mr + Mrs Ross³. I was at both services.

¹ Assume Thomas Martin (1856-1942), D.D., Peebles was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1920; Dr Muir’s title for him is not identified

² Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

³ Assume The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister, and his wife Elizabeth Elder Ross née Sinclair

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

Climbed Tinto¹ at last! Left at 9.15 with Sandie Steel². Called at Hospital, Sunderland Hall Lodge + went via Rink to Peebles, Biggar (via Lyme), Symington to Fallburn³ where we left the car + took our lunch. Baptie⁴ went round the S.W. side of the hill to meet us. It was quite an easy but pretty hot walk of 2 miles to the top. Unfortunately though it was a very pleasant day, with blue sky overhead, a thick haze all round shut out the distant views, all beyond the Clyde. There is an enormous mound of stones on top, the remains of a prehistoric cairn⁵. We returned via Lamington, Culter, Kilbucho + Drumelzier⁶. At the top of the hill after Culter we came on a motor cycle hill climbing competition⁷. We took tea after Broughton + got home a little before 7. A child Brunton⁸, granddaughter of Mrs Lowrie [sic] of Philipburn, died rather suddenly at the Hospital.

¹ Tinto, South Lanarkshire, NS952,343, is 707 metres high

² Sandie Steel is not identified

³ Fallburn, South Lanarkshire, grid reference NGR NS965,376, has Tinto to its SSW

⁴ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁵ Tinto Cairn, Carmichael, South Lanarkshire, “Cairn (Neolithic) – (Bronze Age)” Canmore ID 47525, grid reference NGR NS95320,34368, a cairn measuring approximately 45m in diameter and nearly 6m in height occupies a commanding position on the summit of Tinto

⁶ Lamington, South Lanarkshire, NS979,311, Culter also Coulter, NT023,340, Kilbucho, area of NT090,352 and Drumelzier, NT135,341, having presumably left the main road at Culter

⁷ The location is unidentified but presumably in the area of Goseland Hill

⁸ Ann Ure Brunton, died 1 October 1921, aged 10, at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Selkirk, usual residence Cannon Street, Selkirk, of “Cardiac Asthma 16 hours”, certified by John S Muir M.B.; she was the daughter of David Wilson Brunton, coal pithead worker, and Margaret Brunton née Lourie

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

No fog today. S.W. wind mild. Very pleasant day. Got first Div[idend] from Allen & Hanbury¹ = £8 less tax [of] £2:8:0. Cycled to Craighill². Went up in in 2 hours without dismounting + came back in 1 h. 32m. Got back at 2 + enjoyed my tea. Scott Skirving + his wife³ on their way from a motoring tour to Land’s End had tea with David⁴ + came up to Viewfield where I met them. S. S. saw Mrs Adam Beattie⁵.

¹ Allen & Hanburys, established 1715 and taken over by Glaxo Laboratories 1958; had a burst of growth in the late 19th Century and Incorporated as Allen & Hanburys Limited 1893 [https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp16734/allen-hanburys-limited]

² Craighill was the home of Mrs Grace Linton Anderson née Davidson who had been seen by Dr Muir several times since she had had a baby on 1 August 1921 at Craighill, Ettrick; the second wife of John Laidlaw Anderson, shepherd, they had married 7 March 1919, at Ettrick

³ Archibald Adam Scott Skirving (1869-1930), M.B., C.M., surgeon and lecturer in Clinical Surgery, Royal Edinburgh Infirmary and his wife Georgina S Heugh

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁵ Mrs Adam Beattie was Helen Beattie née Lees (about 1862-1922)

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

Wind around to N.E. + A very dense fog in the morning which continued in less degree all day at times wetting. Motored to Synton Mill at David’s¹ request to see Jas. Elliot² + saw about ½ doz. town cases. Helen³ came home after her 13 weeks absence looking very well. I forgot to send Baptie⁴ down to meet her + I met her coming up at Halliday’s Park at 4. Mrs Mack⁵, Agnes Durnford⁶ and Mrs Wallace⁷ were at tea.

¹ The Editor assumes that this is James Elliot of Flex, Hawick, who was also tenant at Shielswood, Ashkirk; his wife was Isabella Douglas Elliot née Amos [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/302, Selkirk County, page 302 of 611]

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

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

⁴ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

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

⁶ Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976)

⁷ Mrs Wallace is not identified

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

Breakfasted 7 but did not get away till 8.45. Cycled via Riddell (where I called for Mrs Allan¹ who was confined yesterday) + Lilliesleaf (just at Falla’s Smithy²) I picked up a big … horse nail in my back tyre + it took me 45 m to mend the hole) to Denholm, over the Dunion³ (stopping at the summit for a smoke + a look at the Scotsman) to Jedburgh (I think I have only once gone this route before) + on to Crailing Hall⁴, Cessford, Otterburn, Morebattle, Linton, Greenlees, Lempitlaw, Lurdenlaw + Kelso. I don’t remember the bit of road from the point where it branches off to Oxnam to Crailing Hall nor from thereto the Rennieston road end. Also the bit of road from Linton to the Frogden road⁵ was new + a very rough disused road to Lempitlaw⁶ + another of the same from Lurdenlaw to to the Yetholm road. It was a charming day for cycling . Not much wind + not too hot but there was a haze which hid all the distant views. I got home at 7 riding from Roxburgh Castle without dismounting having covered 57 miles. I had nothing from breakfast but 4 biscuits + cheese, some bannock⁷ + tea. Enjoyed a W + S⁸ a hot bath + dinner. Dora⁹ had a nasty faint turn.

¹ James Young Allan was born 27 September 1921 at Riddell Gardens Cottage, Lilliesleaf, the son of Harry Weston Sanderson Allan, estate joiner, and Marie Young Allan nee Steele; the parents had married 8 April 1916 at Edinburgh

² William Falla, blacksmith, had a Smithy on the north west side of the road and just along from the Cross Keys Inn [Sources: 1921 Valuation Roll and Ordnance Survey 25” Roxburghshire Sheet XIII.12, published 1899

³ The Dunion would be the B6358 Denholm to Jedburgh road which passes north of Dunion Hill at its highest point, at grid reference NGR NT625,195

⁴ Crailinghall, grid reference NGR NT698,221, Cessford, NT735,236, Otterburn (presumably only the road end), NT757,244, Morebattle, Linton, NT775,260, Greenlees (again presumably only the road end), NT782,293, Lempitlaw, NT786,326 and Lurdenlaw, NT768,320

⁵ Presumably Dr Muir means the stretch to the junction at NT771,271 where the road continues in a north westerly direction to Frogden NT763,281 while he cycled in NNE through NT776,282

⁶ Presumably Dr Muir has taken on of two routes away from the Graden – Hoselaw road, either taking him through NT794,320 to Lempitlaw and later he has ridden on through NT772,323 to Lurdenlaw

⁷ Selkirk Bannock is that town’s famous rich and buttery leavened tea bread

⁸ Whisky and Soda

⁹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

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

A dry coldish day + duller not much no sunshine + in the afternoon just a little S.W. Glass high + steady. Good harvest weather. Made 7 calls + in afternoon did some book work. Heard yesterday from Pussy Stewart¹ about Pike² + wrote thanking him. He thinks there may be tuberculous mischief in the hip joint. Wrote Lady Napier³ to say that Napier⁴ would not be taken into a nursing home + suggesting an Inebriates Home.

¹ William James ‘Pussy’ Stuart (1873-1959), C.B.E., M.B., F.R.C.S.Ed., medical practitioner, consultant surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and sometime president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Born 17 December 1873, at 7 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh (but not registered until 6 March 1874), the son of the Reverend Doctor John Stuart, Minister of St Andrew’s Parish, Edinburgh, and Jessie Stuart née Duncan, married 14 May 1867 at Edinburgh.
Sources: Statutory BMDs; the British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 5122, 1959, pp. 652–652. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25386853 http://www.jstor.org/stable/25386853. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.

² Frederick Charles Pike (1883-1921), theatrical agent and husband of Dr Muir’s daughter Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, was suffering from very poor health

³ Clarice Jessie Evelyn Napier née Hamilton (1881-1951), the Hon., Lady Napier

⁴ Francis Edward Basil Napier (1876-1941), 12th Lord Napier and 3rd Lord Ettrick, J.P., Captain; soldier and courtier, was making Lady Napier’s life a misery with what was thought to be satyriasis

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

Tom Alexander left this morning

Fine, sharp, sunny day S.W. glass high. Dav.¹ operated on a man Stewart² (brother of Lewenshope³) from Stow, for hernia. Dr Page⁴ of Stow was there. D. also operated on And. Inglis⁵, Tait’s Hill for the sinuses in the perinaeum that have troubled him so long. It was done under special anaesthesia: I motored to Thirlestane at Lady Napier’s⁶ request. She gave me a shocking account of N’s⁷ conduct. He seems to be affected with “Satyriasis”. It is a terrible state of matters + will probably end in a divorce. Phoned Bramwell⁸ + Gulland⁹ about getting him into a nursing home. Gulland said none would take him.

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

² Assume Andrew Stewart (about 1854-), handloom weaver, brother of Robert Stewart (see footnote 3); Andrew had a weaving shed at Old Lewinshope

³ Robert Stewart (about 1857-1940), general or estate labourer, of Old Lewinshope, Yarrow

⁴ Douglas C Murray Page (about 1894-1965), of Stow; a relatively recently qualified medic, he had qualified L.R.C.P. Edin. etc in 1915 and seen war service

⁵ Andrew Inglis, Tait’s Hill is not identified but William Inglis, mason, had a house at 4 Tait’s Hill, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/143, Selkirk Burgh, page 143 of 644]

⁶ Clarice Jessie Evelyn Napier née Hamilton (1881-1951), the Hon., Lady Napier

⁷ Francis Edward Basil Napier (1876-1941), 12th Lord Napier and 3rd Lord Ettrick, J.P., Captain; soldier and courtier aka ‘The Weakling Lord’, ‘An Awful Ass’ or “Poltroon”; appears to have been a constant irritant of Dr Muir’s, who regularly criticised him for evading military service, which he had indeed sought to do. 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. He was fined and entered Berwick Barracks a few days later as an ordinary soldier. On 25 September 1919 Dr Muir, fed up that Lord Napier had upset Lady N. called him “… that prince of snobs and dipsomaniacs.”

⁸ Edwin ‘Ed’ Bramwell (1873-1952), Professor, 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 from 1933 to 1935

⁹ George Lovell Gulland (1862-1941), C.M.G., M.D., F.R.C.P., Professor of Medicine, Edinburgh University

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

Went to morning service with Tom Alexander¹ + to evening with Dora². After former took a sharp walk to Gala Rigg³. Fine day rathe hazy to S but clearer to N. Tom was feeling his heart a little from a walk he took at Thirladean⁴.

¹ Tom Alexander is not identified

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

³ Gala Rigg, east of Selkirk, grid reference NT495,273

⁴ Thirladean, WSW of Selkirk, grid reference NT445,278

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

Sharp clear sunny N.W. wind. Saw 11 cases + cycled to Rockville¹, Sunderland Hall Lodge, Linglie Cottages² + General’s Bridge³ where Tina Rodger⁴ gave me 7 [?] tomatoes. Tom Alexander⁵ spent the day at Thirladean⁶ + Baptie⁷ went up for him at 7. Dr Blaikie⁸ at my suggestion has got Pussy Stewart⁹ to see Pike¹⁰.

¹ Members of the Currie family lived at Rockville, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk

² Dr Muir had been seeing a member of the Bell family at Linglie

³ General’s Bridge is on the south side of the Bowhill, Selkirk, estate

⁴ Assume Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger

⁵ Thirladean, Philiphaugh, Selkirk was the home of David Carnegie Alexander (1856-1928), solicitor [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/325, Selkirk County, page 325 of 611]

⁶ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁷ Tom Alexander is not identified

⁸ Dr Blaikie has not yet been identified

⁹ William James ‘Pussy’ Stuart (1873-1959), C.B.E., M.B., F.R.C.S.Ed., medical practitioner, consultant surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and sometime president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Born 17 December 1873, at 7 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh (but not registered until 6 March 1874), the son of the Reverend Doctor John Stuart, Minister of St Andrew’s Parish, Edinburgh, and Jessie Stuart née Duncan, married 14 May 1867 at Edinburgh.
Sources: Statutory BMDs; the British Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 5122, 1959, pp. 652–652. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25386853 http://www.jstor.org/stable/25386853. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.

¹⁰ Frederick Charles Pike (1883-1921), theatrical agent and husband of Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, was in poor health and giving great concern

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