Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from John Macpherson"

Lairg, Golspie.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/94

John Macpherson was a church minister to Lairg parish.

Lairg was a parish in the historic County of Sutherland and contained the village of Lairg as well. A large area of the parish was dedicated to sheep farming. In 1831, the population was 1045. Over half of the families in the parish were involved in agriculture.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
John Macpherson
Lairg
Golspie

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

There is no resident medical man, but two visit it occasionally.

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Dr Gordon, Bonar Bridge, is the nearest Medical man, and the one who usually visits. He lives at a distance of ten miles from this. Dr Macewen, residing in the Parish of Dornoch, has the charge of the poor.

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

It is within the last two years that Dr Gordon came to Bonar Bridge. Before then there was no medical man in any adjoining Parish

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?

There is some complaint of Medical aid not being of easier access, or within the bounds of the Parish.

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?

Yes

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

To a considerable 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 have had no experience such as to enable me to make any proposal suggestion on this head.

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

None

[[Additional Text]]

Lairg, by Bonar Bridge,
27th Nov. 1850.
John Macpherson

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 John Macpherson"

Lairg, Golspie.

1850.

John Macpherson was a church minister to Lairg parish.

Lairg was a parish in the historic County of Sutherland and contained the village of Lairg as well. A large area of the parish was dedicated to sheep farming. In 1831, the population was 1045. Over half of the families in the parish were involved in agriculture.

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.