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"Survey return from John MacDonald"
Kylespaible, by Lochmaddy.
1851.
RCP/COL/4/8/244
John MacDonald was a medical practitioner in Kylespaible.
Kylespaible (also known as Kyles Paible) was a district in North Uist. At present no additional information about this location is available.
[[Addressee]]
John MacDonald. Esq.
Surgeon
Kylespaible
by Lochmaddy
[[Survey]]
QUERIES
1. How long have you practiced in the locality you at present occupy?
Six years
2. What are the ordinary and what the greatest distances which you have to travel in visiting patients?
from twelve to twenty miles.
3. What means of conveyance do you employ in going long journeys?
Gig1, Riding Horse,
& Boats.
4. What is the state of the roads in your neighbourhood?
Good except in the moor
land districts.
5. Is the position of medical men in general in your quarter improved, or otherwise, of late years?
No.
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?
One half of this Parish.
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?
The hardships of a
Medical Practitioner in this & neighbouring Islands cannot
well be estimated by those who have not visited those remote
Islands especially in winter and in tempestuous weather to which
it is exposed from the Atlantic. When visiting the
smaller Islands no accomodation2 can be procured,
and this increases the hardship. Some of the Ferries can
only be crossed by a conveyance when the Tides are out
and the other ferries are often dangerous. The chief
remuneration is the allowance from the Parochial
Board3 two thirds of which is paid by Government - and
this appointment is merely during the [option] of the
Poor’s Board; the other remuneration is received
by subscription from the Tacksmen4 who number
only five, and from a few others, but the great
majority of the Islanders who are Crofters & Cotters
are so poor that besides gratuitous attendance
they cannot even pay for medicines. In the event
of5 Indisposition the people must be neglected, and
this must also happen if called to attend - say
the Criminal Court at Inverness and from the
connection with the Parochial Board no absence
on any other account is allowed, nor can medical
assistance be got nearer than the Islands of
South Uist & Harris, and that only on the most
urgent matter they being similarly situated
What then is desiderated is an assistant to be
paid6 by Government or otherwise as the
income is not sufficient for this purpose.
[[Additional text]]
Macdonald
Explanatory notes:
1. A gig is a light two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse.
2. Misspelling of “accommodation”.
3. Following the Poor Law Amendment (Scotland) Act of 1845 parochial boards were set up in each parish to administer poor relief.
4. A person who held a lease and sublet land to others.
5. From the word “of” the text continues onto the addressee page.
6. From the word “paid” the text continues towards the bottom of the addressee page.
Remote & Rural Remedies
