Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from Alexander MacDonald"

Kildonan, Golspie.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/93

Alexander MacDonald was a church minister to Kildonan parish.

Kildonan was a parish in the historic County of Sutherland and contained the village Helmsdale. There were several small lakes which provide for fishery in the parish, and the main part of the population was involved in sheep farming. In 1831, the population was 257.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
Alexr MacDonald
Kildonan
Golspie

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

one

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Dr Rutherford, Helmsdale by Golspie

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

No.

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

None, the present has made some attempts to leave but was not successful

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

Yes, Arising particularly from the distance at which Practitioners are placed from the generality of the people. From Golspie to the centre of the Parish of Latheron a distance of 37 miles there is only one medical Practitioner residing in this Parish, although the population is probably from 4 to 5000.

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?

None, has come under my observation although it is very likely such may have been the case

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

I am not aware that the deficiency is made up to any by great extent, except in the immediate neighbourhood by a midwife who on rare occasions may attempts to use by the best advantage the little skills she may be [1 word illegible]

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?

Yes, the introductions into the Parishes of Persons In whose skill the respectable residents could have confidence and the affording of some allowance to such Practitioners by Heritors or others, as would allow them to practic gratis or at a low rate among to poorer classes.

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

None.

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.

"Survey return from Alexander MacDonald"

Kildonan, Golspie.

1850.

Alexander MacDonald was a church minister to Kildonan parish.

Kildonan was a parish in the historic County of Sutherland and contained the village Helmsdale. There were several small lakes which provide for fishery in the parish, and the main part of the population was involved in sheep farming. In 1831, the population was 257.

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.