Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from Neil MacLean"

Halkirk, Thurso.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/111

Neil MacLean was a church minister in Halkirk.

Halkirk was a parish and village in the historic County of Caithness. In 1836, the population was 3085. The main industry of the parish was agriculture and there were also some quarries. These were a source of export to Aberdeen and Leith.

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[[Addressee]]
The Revd
Neil MacLean
Halkirk
Thurso

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

Two

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Dr. James Mill
Dr. William Bruce} (residing in) Thurso

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?

Dr. Laing & Dr. McLean both died within a few weeks, three years ago, of fever; when the present Doctors came to the district in their place.

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

I believe so

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 have no doubt there have been such, as this parish is very extensive & both Doctors reside in Thurso which is five miles from the nearest point of this Parish.

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

There is no supplementary aid. A few, indeed can draw blood¹, & are sometimes of service.

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?

A resident Dr. in the Parish would be of service. – Above all, a properly qualified midwife would be of immense benefit; There is none at present, nearer than Thurso.

9. What Heritors² are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?

None of the Heritors are resident, except Mr. Henderson of Westerdale whose property is very small. – Sir George Sinclair resides at Thurso - & Mr. James Sinclair of Foss, lives not far away in the Parish of Thurso – The rest are not in the County.

[[Additional Text]]

Manse of Halkirk
30th Nov 1850
Neil MacLean-

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Explanatory notes:

1. Bleeding, or bloodletting, is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness and disease. This was a common medical practice in the 1800s, dating back to antiquity, and was often carried out by unlicensed healers as well as qualified physicians.
2. 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.