Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from Alexander Ross"

Invergordon.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/223

Alexander Ross was a medical practitioner in Invergordon.

Invergordon was a village in the parish of Rosskeen. In 1845, the population was 1000. There was an annual exhibit of cattle and grain held in the village. Many women in the village were employed in spinning. For further information on the whole parish, see the entry for Rosskeen.

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[[Addressee]]
– Ross Esq.
Surgeon
Invergordon

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

Thirty-four Years and a Half

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

Being Poor Law Medical Officer for Three Parishes, My bounds
catered to Fifteen Square Miles –

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

A Gig¹ – I cannot now Ride as I
used to do having Fractured My Leg Seven Years since –

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

Most of them very good –

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

We have been decidedly injured by the Poor Law Act as formerly Proprietors
employed and paid Us for Attending upon Their Servants and Dependant
but now These are put upon the Poor Roll and are Attended without
any extra allowance by the Parish Medical Officer –

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?

As there is an other Surgeon in this Village, We are quite capable of managing
the District – besides We [could] upon an emergency procure the Assistance of Ten more within a circuit of Thirteen Miles but the People generally speaking are neither able nor willing to pay for Medical Aid although They would have no objections to receive it gratuituly² –

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?

Our greatest cause of compaint³ is the very inadequate remuneration We receive from Parochial Boards⁴ being from £10 to £15 per Annum for Attending upon 100 to 180 Paupers, many of Them at a distance of 7 - 8 - 9 and 10 Miles besides Proprietors and Farmers in the event of Sickness throwing their Servants upon the Roll as interim or permanent Paupers. Many Medical Gentlemen are therefore faine to divote⁵ Their attention to Farming rather than divote Their Time and Talents to a Profession that will not support Them –

[[Additional text]]

Alexander Ross. Surgeon
Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
2d February 1852

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Explanatory notes:

1. A gig is a light two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse.
2. Misspelling of “gratuitously”.
3. Misspelling of “complaint”.
4. Following the Poor Law Amendment (Scotland) Act of 1845 parochial boards were set up in each parish to administer poor relief.
5. Misspelling of “devote”.