Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from Colin F. Campbell"

Kilbride, Arran.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/18

Colin F. Campbell was a church minister to Kilbride parish.

Kilbride was a parish on the Isle of Arran in the historic County of Bute, and occupied much of the east coast of the island. The climate and surrounding nature of the parish was regarded as being beneficial to the population's health. Turnip husbandry was a large part of the agriculture and fishing was popular. In 1835, the population was 2397.

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[[Addressee]]
The Revd
C.F. Campbell
Kilbride
Arran

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Kilbride. Arran ?

There are 2 medical men in the whole Island of Arran which is 24 miles in length by 9 or 10 miles in breadth – The 2 medical men are resident in this parish and within 3 miles of one another – None in the parish of Kilmory

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Mr Andrew Stoddart Brodick
Mr Charles Cook. Lamlash } Arran

3. Has the number increased or diminished of late years?

No change for 7 years when an aged medical Gentleman the Father of Mr Andrew Stoddart died.

4. Have any left the Parish since you became connected with it? If so, for what reasons?

None

5. Is there any complaint among the people of inadequacy in the supply of Medical aid?

I have heard no complaints

6. Do you know of any cases of protracted suffering, or of injury by Accident, such as might have been alleviated had proper advice been at hand?

I am not aware of any though from the great distance at which the medical officers are stationed tis probable there may have been some cases of protracted suffering.

7. To what extent is the deficiency of qualified Practitioners made up by the efforts of other parties?

Some clergymen and others practise bloodletting¹ and prescribe simple medicines in emergencies – but not to any great extent.

8. Does your experience enable you to suggest any measure – of general applicability – such as would be likely to relieve to some extent the evils (if they exist) of deficiency in the supply of Medical aid?

I cannot suggest any in existing circumstances.

9. What Heritors² are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?

The Duke of Hamilton & Brandon & Capt A Wm Fullarton are the only Heritors – Both non resident Though they have residences on the Island.

[[Additional Text]]

Colin F Campbell Minr
of Kilbride

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Explanatory notes:

1. Bleeding, or bloodletting, is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness and disease. This was a common medical practice in the 1800s, dating back to antiquity, and was often carried out by unlicensed healers as well as qualified physicians.
2. A heritor was a landowner, under Scots Law, whose holdings were sizeable enough for them to be liable for the payment of public burdens such as Poor Law rates, road and bridge assessments and the church minister’s stipend.