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"Survey return from John MacDonald"
Helmsdale.
1850.
RCP/COL/4/8/96
John MacDonald was a church minister to Helmsdale parish.
Helmsdale is a village which was within the parish of Kildonan. For further information see entry for Kildonan.
[[Addressee]]
The Revd
John Mac Donald
Helmsdale
[[Survey]]
QUERIES
1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Loth & Kildonan?
One only.
2. The Names and Addresses of these.
Thomas H. Rutherford M.D. & Surgeon
3. Has the number increased or diminished of late years?
Dr Rutherford is the only medical Practitioner of standing, and respectability, who has resided for any length of time in this place, with the practice of the two Parishes of Loth and Kildonan.
4. Have any left the Parish since you became connected with it? If so, for what reasons?
Two have left the place, within the last 13 years since I became connected with it, another shortly before then, a fourth died of Cholera in 1832. The reasons were that they expected to succeed better in other places, on account of the poverty of the people here. This was*1 the2 case especially, in regard to our [1 word illegible]3 them – another got a salaried station, & the third very unsteady
5. Is there any complaint among the people of inadequacy in the supply of Medical aid?
I cannot say that there is any complaint, in the supply of medical aid: but that arises solely from Dr. R’s kindness and willingness to serve the people, at a great sacrifice of professional attendance, and bestowal of medicines
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 do not know of any cases, since Dr. Rutherford came to the Place, five or six years ago. I have no doubt, but there must have been cases before then, while for the most part, the nearest medical man, lived 12 miles from Helmsdale.
7. To what extent is the deficiency of qualified Practitioners made up by the efforts of other parties?
N effort is made, nor required now, for a qualified Practitioner. All that is needed is simple, to make some provision for keeping Dr. R. in this place, to continue his practice, among the Class, who are not here considered entitled to become Paupers, but who are so poor that they cannot remunerate a medical Practitioner.
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 already said there is no want of medical aid, and stated the grounds. I would take leave to say that I do not see how a gentleman of Dr. R’s standing can be expected to remain here, for a long time, practicing among a population of about 2700, when the most of them are but one grade above the Paupers, unless some provision bemdemade for him, by other Parties. This is what I would suggest, as the measure required
9. What Heritors4 are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?
The Duke of Sutherland is the only Heritor. I may add that this is a most important place, for a qualified medical Practitioner being always stationed in it, not only on account of the largeness of its population; but on account of its being
over5
being, one of the principal Herring Fishing stations on the Coast. Multitudes flock to it, from all parts of the Country, during the fishing season, many of them poor people, who are exposed per to accidents, on Sea and Land, of which there have been cases, since I became connected with the place. Among such a multitude of people accidents must happen, and sometimes severe ones, & much so, that unless medical aid were at hand life would be in the greatest danger, in consequence of severe hurt, or the upsetting of Boats, which I have seen myself. Let me further say that notwithstanding the importance of this place, nothing has been done by the Proprietor for keeping a respectable medical Practitioner in it while in other parts of the County the Duke of Sutherland affords salaries to two or three Doctors. John Macdonald Minsr.
Helmsdale is a village, in the Parish of Kildonan formerly it was in Loth; but the Parishes have been lately altered, as to their Boundaries. J.Mc.D
[[Additional Text]]
John Macdonald Minsr.6
Explanatory notes:
1. After the word ‘was’ the text continues on the left of the page under the typed query box, which the writer has indicated with an asterisk.
2. Word “the” is obscured by a fold in the manuscript.
3. Text obscured by fold. Manuscript is glued down.
4. 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.
5. After the word ‘over’ the text continues on the addressee page.
6. Written at bottom of query page.
Remote & Rural Remedies
