Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from Basil Spence"

Unst, Shetland.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/257

Basil Spence was a medical practitioner in Unst.

Unst was an island parish on the Shetland Islands. In 1831, the population was 2909. The main industry was fishery, with some inhabitants also working as farmers and tradespeople.

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[[Addressee]]
Dr Spence
Unst
Shetland

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

7 years

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

Through this Island & occasionally to the neighbouring Isle of Yell &
Fetlar, & on rare occasions, to the north part of the Mainland – a distance
of 20 miles or upwards.

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

Boating

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

There are no Roads in Unst; but from
the nature of the ground, their absence is not much felt in travelling.

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

There was little [1 word illegible] for falling off & in the existing circumstances
of the Islands generally, it at least cannot be said to have
improved -

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 Island containing a population of about 3,000 might
be considered sufficient. There are three medical practitioners
(myself included) resident in this Island; none in Yell or Fetlar,
nor at present in the north part of Mainland.

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?

[no text]

[[Additional text]]

Basil Spence Surg
Island of Unst, Shetland
Nov 13th 1851