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"Survey return from Eric S. Sinclair"
Wick.
1851.
RCP/COL/4/8/232
Eric S. Sinclair was a medical practitioner in Wick.
Wick was a parish, seaport, and market town in the historic County of Caithness. The parish contained the towns of Louisburgh and Pulteneytown, as well as the villages of Ackergill, Keiss, Sarclet, and Staxigoe. The main industry was herring fishery and connected rope and net manufacture, boat-building and iron foundry. In 1831, the total population was 9850.
[[Addressee]]
Eric S. Sinclair Esq. p.p.
Surgeon
Wick
[[Survey]]
QUERIES
1. How long have you practiced in the locality you at present occupy?
21 years
2. What are the ordinary and what the greatest distances which you have to travel in visiting patients?
From a few yards to 25 miles
3. What means of conveyance do you employ in going long journeys?
Gig.1 & horseback
4. What is the state of the roads in your neighbourhood?
Very fine and good.
5. Is the position of medical men in general in your quarter improved, or otherwise, of late years?
Very much
improved of late years.
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?
I feel satisfaction that this locality
is well supplied but not much
remuneration.
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?
I have none to
mention except the bad paym-
ents
[[Additional text]]
I am [Gent]
Your [obidt]
E.S. Sinclair
Explanatory notes:
1. A gig is a light two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse.
Remote & Rural Remedies
