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1 January 1919 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

The diary is transcribed as usual below but this is the last blog of Dr Muir’s diary on Tumblr. Instead the blog will continue on WordPress, where we hope to generate greater interest and some interaction or reaction from readers: see https://rumblingclintonline.blog/. 

The editors will be delighted if readers choose to switch and keep up with Dr Muir as he pedals towards the 1920s and beyond...

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31 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Did not get Mrs Tait over till 2.30. Jas Tait is a son of Mrs Tait, Peelburnhead who used to be at Kersknowe. Tait walked down with me*. Baptie had been entertained at Old Lewenshope. Got to bed at 4.30. Put off sick parade till 10. Saw Murdoch [? Resting] very easy**. Saw some town cases walking & in afternoon motored to Yair & Thirladean (Gray). Got some holly at Bowhill yesterday. Helen had Isobel Rodger & Helen Smith at tea. Yesterday morning Dora 'Phoned that she was going off to the Baltic again (Copenhagen). Did not stay up to see the New Year in.

* Betsy Morrison Bulloch Tait, daughter of James Tait, shepherd, and Marion Tait Black Tait née Bulloch, born 31 December 1918, Lewenshope Hope, Yarrow [birth registered 25 January 1919 at Yarrow]. The parents had married 2 March 1917 at Craigneuk. Dalziel, Lanarkshire

** The editors assume that this is George Murdoch (c.1842-1919), hall keeper, previously police constable, of Victoria Hall, Scott's Place, Selkirk

Note: Lewenshope Hope is at NGR NT369,317

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30 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Great Coalition Victory as Asquith and his followers squashed*. Letter from Patrick. Another very disagreeable day with some sleet & snow the latter lying on the higher hill tops. I had sick parade at 7.30. 5 men & 2 to discharge. Called for Murdoch who has had an excellent night**. Took the car to Bleachfield Road, Tower Street, W[est] Port, Glebe Terrace, Riverside &c & then up to Deuchar Mill (when I took the stitches out of Lizzie's wound), Mount Benger, Annelshope (tea) & Ettrickshaws. Got back about 4 & saw some cases in Hill Street & Backrow & Castle Street. Crowd of people at night. Dined at 7.30 by myself Helen being at Elmpark where D [David] went after dinner for a couple of hours. Major Durnford there***. Got home at 10.30 & got message by 'Phone (Mrs Bryson brought it as they couldn't get on to Thorncroft) to Mrs Tait, Lewenshope Hope. Motored to Old Lewenshope where Amos walked with me till we met Tait about half way. It was a dirty walk but fortunately it was fair.

* The General Election held 14 December 1918, but not counted until 28th to allow soldiers' votes from overseas to be counted, was notable for several reasons. It was a sweeping victory for the coalition (and also for Sinn Féin) but a notable defeat for H H Asquith. As a result of the Representation of the People Act 1918 all men over 21 and women aged 30 or over were entitled to vote. It was also the first election to be held on a single day. It was the election in which Labour first overtook the Liberals in Wales and the last election before the secession of Irish Counties to form the Irish Free State. Under Éamon de Valera the Sinn Féin elected members refused to take seats in the House of Commons, instead joining the Irish revolutionary assembly Dáil Éireann, which was to convene on 21 January 1919 marking the beginning of the Irish War of Independence. Finally, Sinn Féin candidate Constance Markiewicz née Gore-Booth (1868-1927) made the election notable when she became the first woman to be elected to the British parliament though, in common with her colleagues, she refused to take her seat

** The editors assume that this is George Murdoch (c.1842-1919), hall keeper, previously police constable, of Victoria Hall, Scott's Place, Selkirk

*** Major Norman Stanley M Durnford, Agnes Harper's new husband

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29 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

A disagreeable day of sleet rain & fog. Saw Murdoch first thing & then motored to Synton Mill (calling for Mrs Leitch)*. The road by Greenhill is worse than ever & is more like a rough farm road than a public highway. Opened a gum boil [?] for Walter Grieve. Came back by Backrow. Then I saw town cases & went up to Thirladean (where DC [Alexander] was almost rude to me) & Ravensheugh. Had to see Murdoch again & use a catheter. Had a fine quiet afternoon at the Daybook & supped at Wellwood.

* The editors assume that this is George Murdoch (c.1842-1919), hall keeper, previously police constable, of Victoria Hall, Scott's Place, Selkirk

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28 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Still fresh but with a sharp NW wind. Went to sick parade 7.30 only 2 men sick & 2 to demobilise. Had to see Dav Rutherford before breakfast. Message to Leitch, Hill Street, Walker, Tower Street & Cockburn, Dunsdale & Linton, Ett[rick] Road. Did them & went on to Ett[rick] Shaws & Annelshope. Got back before 3 & found messages to Waldie, Goslaw Green & Brown, Victoria Cres[cen]t. Saw them & went to Old Prieston (where Miss D died last night)*, Whitmuirhall Toll & Smedheugh. Had to see Kyle & Brown second time & called for Jeffrey & Moffat. Message at 7 to Synton Mill but said I would go tomorrow. Helen at Mrs Robertson's for tea. Dora [Muir]’s boat arrived at Leith yesterday.

* Isabella Forrest ‘Isa’ Douglas, Old Prieston, Bowden, died 27 December 1918, aged 49, of a cerebral haemorrhage

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27 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Fresh: no trace of ice or frost & roads muddy. David came to breakfast after sick parade & we went over the cases. Then I motored to Old Prieston taking Mrs Weir with me to to give Isa Douglas an enema. She was unconscious. David was at Pensions board at Gala & Menzies took him over. I saw some town cases motoring. D[avid] & Norah left for London at night*. My Dyspepsia was still very bad & took very little breakfast or tea but with the aid of a glass of white port I took a little dinner. Helen went to Jedburgh by train with Barbara to have her dress fitted. Helen was at Lauriston for tea.

* Dr David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963); medical practitioner, and his first wife Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971)

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26 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Paid for my guzzling yesterday by a very bad fit of indigestion which kept me miserable all day. Motored to Old Prieston first thing. David went to Ettrick Shaws & Annelshope taking Mackenzie to Kirkhope. I did some clerical work but much less than I expected & intended. Helen had Mrs Robertson to tea. The frost gave at night & there was some rain & wind.

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25 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Cold N wind & frost holding but no more. David stayed all night at Ettrick Shows & Baptie with him. I took sick parade at Victoria Hall. Saw some town cases walking including Gib[son] & Lum[gair] & Hosp[ital] where there are only 2 cases left. Motored to Old Prieston after early Xmas dinner at Wellwood. David went up to Ett[rick] Shaws again. He went up in Mrs Adamson's motor with the Ogilvies & came back in it. Helen & I dined at Mauldsheugh & met McKenzie the new Kirkhope minister.** He is a very nice chap in correct evening dress with a good English accent, a great contrast to his predecessor. Mrs Robertson was there too. I wasn't warm all the evening!

* George E Mackenzie, Minister of Kirkhope Church 1918-1934

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24 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Frost still holding & it was a fine day but at night a pretty strong westerly gale rose. David did the town & I motored to Thirladean (where I syringed Carnegie's ear*), Generals Br[idge], Ettrick Shaws, over the Swire to Mt Benger & Bowhill N Lodge. At 10pm I got a message to somebody Douglas, Old Prieston**, a boy on a white pony brought it. It was quite like old times. I found that one of two sisters living there had cerebral apoplexy & aphasia. When I got home at 12 Dav[id]] rang up to say there was a message to Ettrickshaws & poor Baptie had to go off again.

* Almost certainly David Carnegie Alexander (1856-1928), solicitor

** Parish of Bowden

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23 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Letter of 13th & 14th from Dora [Muir] at Copenhagen. Last night there was rain after the snow which had quite disappeared this morning but a hard frost again set in & the streets & roads were in places coated with ice. I went to the Victoria Hall with D [Dr David Graham] at 9 to see the process of examining soldiers for demobilisation*. This took me till 10.30. D went to Edinburgh & I after seeing a few town cases motored to Thirladean, Ettrrickshaws, Gilmanscleuch & Annelshope. Getting back at 5. Had a constant crowd from 6 till 7.30. Helen [Muir] motored to Jedburgh with Nancy** to get measured for a coat & skirt which Jack had given her.

* David Charteris Graham (1889-1963) M.B., Ch.B., Dr Muir's partner

** Agnes ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir

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16 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Calmer: colder: inclined to frost at night. David was up at sick parade at 7 & he started off early to Thirladean (where he had stayed all night), Carterhaugh, Ettrick Shaws, Ramseycleuch, Midgehope Cottage, Croof Cottage, The Manse, Annelshope & Kirkhope Manse. I cycled round town & made about 35 calls including Hospital 18 patients & motored to Whitmuirhall Toll.

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22 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Went to morning service. Have not been at church since Nov 3rd. There was only a town list of 7 & one of them died this morning viz Joan Jamieson, Ashybank*. It was snowing gently as we came out of church & it continued most of the day but the frost gave. D[avid] & Norah motored to Melrose (D[avid] having been asked to operate on a patient at the asylum) intending to go on to Glenormiston but the snow stopped them. They, Mrs Robertson & 4 Wellwoods came to supper. Jack brought a bottle of champagne & made me produce another.

* Joan Jamieson née Edgar, wife of Lance Corporal Robert J Jamieson, Service No. 410801, Motor Transport A.S.C., died 22 December 1918, at Ashybank, aged 47

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21 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Frost holding: roads hard & dry with a little ice in places where the rime was thick. Message to see And[drew] Linton, Gilmanscleuch. David did the town, the list being smaller. I motored to Thirladean, Ett[rick] Shaws, Gilmanscleuch & Annelshope. Found Mrs And[rew] Linton a very sweet girl. Both Netty & Annie Brydon are ill. Went to the Station at 5 to see the Belgians off. Some of them were very tearful. Jack & Nancy went to [?] Helen. I gave my photo to the Somers, Malsen [or Madsen] & Adrienni van Meintal. Went over to Yair after. Found Dubs fully dressed for the first time since his accident.

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20 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

A good winter day: dry clear frost: frost haze in valleys, roads covered with rime & slippery. Mrs Leslie, Heathpark died today.* Cycled round town & out to Smedheugh & Whitmuirhall Toll. At 4.15 got message to Mt Benger to see Mrs Scott, John Mitchell's mother in law formerly of Midgehope. Found that she has an abdominal tumour probably malignant. Jas Mitchell, Newburgh was there. D[avid] was at Ett[rick] Shaws & Annelshope, Thirladean & Philiphaugh. Certified the Malsens [or Madsens], Somers, Mad. Van ?ywik, Van Reens free from infection. They leave tomorrow. Inspected the Belgians who are to leave tomorrow.

* Margaret Leslie née Vair, widow of Andrew Leslie, master mariner, died 20 December 1918 at 2 Heathpark, Selkirk, age 74, as a result of pleurisy

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19 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Rather clearer: some frost. Roads harder: wind NW. Fewer new messages & no new Flu ones. D[avid] motored early after sick parade to Ett[rick] Shaws, Annelshope & Ramseycleuch (Fleming) & I cycled about town. At 1.45 when at Heatherlie Mill D[avid] on his way to Gala & he asked me to do Philip[haugh] Cotts, Thirladean & Philiphaugh which prevented my going to Smedheugh & Whitmuirhall Toll. D[avid] at night went to Ett[rick] Shaws again with Ed Bramwell. Jean Wright a little better. Tem[perature] morn 103: night 101. Barb & Jack came home.

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18 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Cold day. Ground frost which made the roads slippery in places. There have certainly been fewer cases of Flue since Sunday though there is still a big list of people needing visits. Nurse Glenman (a big Irish Midwide) took in at the Hosp[ital] but I am getting out 6 patients tomorrow leaving 10. Motored round town. Attended meeting of Hosp[ital] Committee when I was allowed to open another ward if necessary. D[avid] was at Thirladean & Deuchar Mill.

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17 December 1918 diary of Dr J S Muir of Selkirk

Sharp frost which held all day. The rime never went off the roof of hay loft. Smallest list for several weeks. I fnished by 12. Banked a lot of money for self & firm. Was at daybook etc all afternoon. Wrote Jean. 48 galls of petrol sent off on 2nd arrived today. Ordered 10 more. No country work but Thirladean. Helen, Nancy & Elise Somers trained to Boleside & walked to Melrose & back home*. Had John Black's pigeon's for dinner. Jean Wright, Clifton Road has pneumonia.

* It is likely that they took the Abbotsford ferry after alighting at Boleside station