Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from John McColl"

Dalecholish, by Bonaw.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/213

John McColl (also written as MacColl) was a medical practitioner in Dalecholish.

At present no additional information about this location is available.

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[[Addressee]]
Dr MacColl
Dalecholish
by Bonaw

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How long have you practiced in the locality you at present occupy?

Nine years.

2. What are the ordinary and what the greatest distances which you have to travel in visiting patients?

27 miles N.E. as far as Glencoe – 16 miles
S.W. to Muckairn, and 17 miles N.N.W. to
Lismore & Kingarloch[?]

3. What means of conveyance do you employ in going long journeys?

Horse, Boat, &c.

4. What is the state of the roads in your neighbourhood?

Generally good, but some of them very bad.

5. Is the position of medical men in general in your quarter improved, or otherwise, of late years?

Not at all improved – quite the contrary.

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?

It is somewhat difficult to answer this question - To afford
adequate renumeration to a medical man it would require more than
double the population of these two parishes, viz. Lismore & Appin, & Ardchattan
and Muckairn, at the usual rate according to my experience, but I con-
sider the distance as stated in Q. No.2. with 4 small ferries & 1 barge on to cross enough for
one med. man.

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 is expected of me as Parochial medical officer, in the case
of any family such as a Tradesman’s or Workman’s, being attacked
with fever or other contagious disease, previously supporting himself
and family by his own industry, but now laid upon a sickbed,
to give my time, medicine and Attendance without fee or reward
indeed much more often with great opprobrium for some supposed
inattention or neglect – such is the indigent state of these
people in this district – especially – but as for a remedy
by any general measure or enactment I am not prepared
to give an opinion upon, unless a clause might be introduced
into the existing Bill to meet such cases. I should suggest
that for midwifery cases an extra fee should be allowed

[[Additional text]]

John McColl
Surgeon