Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from William MacKay"

Kilmorack, Beauly.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/72

William MacKay was a church minister to Kilmorack parish.

Kilmorack was a parish in the historic County of Inverness and lay on the river Beauly. It contained the village and valley of Beauly and the Falls of Kilmorack. Large parts of the area were cultivated and there were some tree plantations. The river provided for fishery. In 1831, the population was 2709.

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[[Addressee]]
The Rev.
Wm MacKay
Kilmorack
Beauly

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

One, viz, Mr Cormick, Surgeon Beauly

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

M? Cormick, Surgeon Beauly.

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

The number has diminished of late years; till within the last 2 or 3 years, there were two medical men, practicing in this district

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

One who practiced in this parish, but whose residence was in the parish of Kiltarlity, has ceased to practice here, having leased a large sheep farm on the West Coast, where he now principally resides.

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

There are frequent complaints of the inadequacy of the supply of medical aid; at the same time those who complain, state, that they cannot expect afford more, being generally very poor.

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 such cases having occurred here, since I became connected with this parish. I have known however; individuals, who had to go to Inverness in order to receive proper medical treatment.

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

Till May last, an English gentleman, M? Boulderson resided in Erchless Castle, who was frequently applied to by the people of this district for medical advice; he frequently distributed medicines to applicants, which were attended with the most beneficial results.

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 would humbly propose, that medicines should be given to the charge of the clergymen of the districts referred to, to be supplied by them, as in the above instance to those who should apply for them; the medicines, of course to be supplied gratis by the R. College of Physicians

9. What Heritors¹ are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?

Lord Lovat There are only two heritors in this parish, Lord Lovat, and the Chisholm, the former of whom resides generally in the parish of Kiltarlity and the latter occasionally in this parish.

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Explanatory notes:

1. 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.