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"Survey return from William Campbell"
Kildalton, Argylleshire.
1851.
RCP/COL/4/8/210
William Campbell was a medical practitioner in Kildalton, Argylleshire.
Kildalton was a parish in the historic County of Argyle and contained multiple little islands. There was much livestock bred in the parish and agriculture and husbandry was maintained. The population was 3315 in 1841.
[[Addressee]]
Willm Campbell Esq.
Surgeon
Kildalton
Argylleshire
[[Survey]]
QUERIES
1. How long have you practiced in the locality you at present occupy?
Twenty Years
2. What are the ordinary and what the greatest distances which you have to travel in visiting patients?
From seven to nine miles from Port Ellen the Village
I reside in on either side
3. What means of conveyance do you employ in going long journeys?
For a number of years kept a Horse for the purpose but of late
occasionally hire one
4. What is the state of the roads in your neighbourhood?
They have formerly been in a very indifferent state, but of late
have been considerably improved
5. Is the position of medical men in general in your quarter improved, or otherwise, of late years?
The inhabitants in general are so much reduced from the Failure
of the Potatoes and other Concurring Causes that they are unable
to pay the ordinary Fees for Medical advice and Attendance
Medicine &c1 &c -
6. Supposing the people of the Highlands and Islands were generally able to pay for medical
advice, according to rates usually observed in other parts of the kingdom, what extent of
country in your locality would you regard as sufficient to occupy a single practitioner
fully?
This district in which I have regularly Practised for the last
Twenty Years is fully Sufficient to occupy a Single Practitioner
except when Contagious or infectious diseases occur.
7. Mention, if you please, any special hardships incident to your situation, such as you think
might be remedied by some general measure or enactment?
It would contribute much to the success of the Qualified
Practitioner, were there a general measure or enactment
to prohibit Quacks or other unqualified persons from
administering Medicine or performing the lesser operations
shuch2 as bleeding3 &c especially where a Qualified Practitioner
can be procured or the Patient under his charge -
[[Additional text]]
Port Ellen Islay
4 Septr 1851 }
William Campbell Coll
Surgeon
Explanatory notes:
1. “&c” is shorthand for etcetera.
2. Misspelling of “such”.
3. Bleeding, or bloodletting, is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness and disease. This was a common medical practice in the 1800s, dating back to antiquity, and was often carried out by unlicensed healers as well as qualified physicians.
Remote & Rural Remedies
