-
"Survey return from Alexander Flyter"
Alness.
1850.
RCP/COL/4/8/67
Alexander Flyter was a church minister to Alness parish.
Alness was a parish in the historic County of Ross and Cromarty. Local employment was primarily in fishery and agriculture. Some silver and iron ore was obtained in the parish. The transportation routes through the parish improved significantly in the mid-19th century. At that time, the population was 1440.
[[Addressee]]
The Revd P.P.
Alexr. Flyter
Alness
[[Survey]]
QUERIES
1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Alness?
Dr. Ross Dingwall – Dr Wishart Dingwall1. - and Mr. Alexr. Ross Invergordon
All too distant – and difficult to be had. X
2. The Names and Addresses of these.
William Ross Esqr. M.D. Dingwall.
James Wishart Esqr. M.D. Dingwall.
Mr Alex.r Ross surgeon, Invergordon.
3. Has the number increased or diminished of late years?
The number has not of late increased. Dr Wishart is a very aged Practitioner - much beloved by the People.
4. Have any left the Parish since you became connected with it? If so, for what reasons?
No medical man has been residing in this Parish of late years, but we often require one very much.
5. Is there any complaint among the people of inadequacy in the supply of Medical aid?
The People feel very much the want of medical aid.
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?
Many cases have come under my observation of protracted suffering from want of proper medical advice.
7. To what extent is the deficiency of qualified Practitioners made up by the efforts of other parties?
General and Mrs. Munro of Teaninich, are most attentive to the People, give them advice, and bestow on them medicine.
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?
The only effectual remedy would be the residence of a well qualified medl. man in the village of Alness.
9. What Heritors2 are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?
General Munro of Tianinich, constantly resident – H. A. J. Munro of Novar, resident about six months – Alexander Matheson Esqr. (of Lealty) sometimes for a few months resident at Ardross in our neighbourhood.
[[Additional Text]]
Alness 3rd Decr. 1850
Alexr. Flyter minr.
F.F.C. Alness-
X3 Dingwall distant from the People of Alness, from Invergordon & from the people4 from 4 to 10 m
Explanatory notes:
1. Represented by ‘Do’ (ditto).
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.
3. Written at top of page. Continuation of query 2.
4. Represented by ‘Do’ (ditto).
Remote & Rural Remedies
