Remote & Rural Remedies

Click on a page for the full-size image:
- Page1
- Page2
Click on a page for the full-size image:
- Page1
- Page2
"Survey return from David Mackenzie"

Farr, Thurso.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/104

David Mackenzie was a church minister in Farr.

Farr was a parish and a village in the historic County of Sutherland. In the mid-19th century the number of inhabitants lay between 1000 and 2000. Most of the land of the parish was used for sheep walks, with some other parts being used for agriculture and tree plantations. Some inhabitants also worked in fishery.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd.
David Mackenzie
Farr
Thurso

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Farr Sutherland [1 word illegible]?

One

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Dr ~~William B~~ Dr R. M. Black at Tongue by Golspie

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

no one has been employed but Dr Black - I may here Remark, that since 1831 - Dr Black is the fifth in succession, each of his Predecessors being stationed at Tongue as he is, & having to visit the Three Parishes of Tongue Farr & Durness

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?

Not so far as I Know – Dr. Black attends patients when called for –

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 not

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

Altho I did not study for the Medical Profession – Yet having much entercourse with Eminent Professional men, I learned how to Administer simple Medicine, which have been & still are of relief among a¹ people far removed from Medical aid, Dr. Black being 14 Miles from this Parish –

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 cannot suggest on this Subject farther than to say, as the Inhabitants are generally very poor a supply of Castor Oil, Epsom salts, Rhubarb, & some Bark or Quinine, & Blisters, would be² a Benefit, for gratuitous Distribution.

9. What Heritors³ are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?

There is no Resident Heritor – the Duke of Sutherland is sole Heritor of this Parish, never lives in it, but I think gives an annual allowance to Dr Black for visiting the Sick in the Parish -

[[Additional Text]]

David MacKenzie Minr. of the Free Chh .
Farr Free Manse Novr 27 1850 - Farr Thurso

Explanatory notes:

1. Continues into box for query 8.
2. Continues into box for query 9.
3. 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 David Mackenzie"

Farr, Thurso.

1850.

David Mackenzie was a church minister in Farr.

1. Continues into box for query 8. 2. Continues into box for query 9. 3. 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.

1. Continues into box for query 8.
2. Continues into box for query 9.
3. 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.