Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from James Smith"

Unst, Shetland.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/258

James Smith 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.

[[Addressee]]
Doctr James¹ Basil Smith Esq
Surgeon, Unst
Shetland

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

About Tenty Years

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

From one mile to Twelve in ordinary. Some-
times so far as sixteen or more.

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

Where the surface of
the district is such as to admit of riding we employ Ponies.
We have also much sea travelling

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

We may be said to have as yet no
Roads in this Island but on the Mainland a “Trunk line”² is being made by funds sup-
plied by the Destitution Board³. Travelling is most difficult & hazardous.

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

The position of medical men here is certainly by no
means improved, but very much the reverse in every respect

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?

~~[Several words illegible]~~ I cannot see how
any man could possibly take charge of a district larger than sixteen or
twenty miles in extent, considering the difficulty of travelling, and in that
field he would glean a very scanty maintenance, allowing that he
occupied it alone without interference of the non-professional

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 cannot fix upon
any special hardship to which we are subjected, to which any gene-
ral measure or enactment could be applied, unless perhaps that of
non-professional encroachment on our province by Established
clergymen, mercantile dealers, travelling quacks &c &c

[[Additional text]]

James Smith. M.D

Explanatory notes:

1. Written in another hand.
2. A main road, or through road, commonly able to handle vehicles.
3. Destitution Committee set up by the Free Church of Scotland in response to the Highland Potato Famine.

"Survey return from James Smith"

Unst, Shetland.

1851.

James Smith 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.

1. Written in another hand. 2. A main road, or through road, commonly able to handle vehicles. 3. Destitution Committee set up by the Free Church of Scotland in response to the Highland Potato Famine.

1. Written in another hand.
2. A main road, or through road, commonly able to handle vehicles.
3. Destitution Committee set up by the Free Church of Scotland in response to the Highland Potato Famine.