Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from John Mackay"

Poolewe, Dingwall.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/120

John Mackay was a church minister in Poolewe.

Poolewe was separated into a quoad sacra parish from Gairloch with half of the number of inhabitants from there. For information on the area, see the entry for Gairloch.

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[[Addressee]]
The Revd
John Mackay
Poolewe
Dingwall

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

1 There is no resident medl man. The Paupers pay one Robertson from Gairloch, & the others are presently only preparing to get a proper person. Dr MacKenzie of Eileanach lives in Poolewe but he does not commonly practice, tho’ a very proper person for the purpose if other calls admitted of it.

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

2 John MacKenzie Esqr M D of Eileanach – Isle of Ewe – Poolewe by Dingwall.
- Charles Robertson Gairloch a surgeon & little farmer – procured by Dr MacKenzie for the paupers & crofters on the Gairloch property & other inferior purposes. We expect a proper person for Poolewe soon.

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

3rd There seems to have been no person till the Poor Law passed. Robertson is employed by Poolewe & Gairloch at present for the Poor. Dr MacKenzie was always here. So it seems to be an increase, numerically speaking, but we are worse than entirely wanting a medical man from all I hear & know.

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

4th Since early in 1849 when I came here, no person of the sort either came or went. Only Dr MacKenzie came to reside in Poolewe this year to live on his Farm of Isle of Ewe. Robertson went from here to Gairloch to a little Sheep Farm called Auchtercairn. We are quite unprovided now

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

5 They seem to have never known better, but as death & every kind & degree of discomfort have ever prevailed in consequence, I need not say that our complaints cannot be too strong. Since I came here Robertson’s chief work was to libel the Gairloch minister & that has made him useless for his own [manuscript damaged]¹ work

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?

6 Mrs Macrae of Aird House Poolewe is a case now in existence. Other such cases where the Doctor refuses are almost numberless. A feeling of jealousy between the Parishes hurts. The Dr is said to presume on the Gairloch Interest & not to regret any harm which Mr Bankes’ people may incur on the Poolewe Bounds As there are near 100 miles to cover he might come occasionally short tho’ he were better, & he needs to be so.

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

7 Mr Bankes the wealthy proprietor here had this month to send 80 miles to Dingwall for 2 Doctors for his own use, as he could not employ Robertson. Several kind & generous parties give simple medicines both strangers & others. The place is healthy, & we propose to get this serious blank in our comforts filled up by a subscription headed by Mr Bankes to get a conscientious & skilful medical man for Poolewe.

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?

8th “Placing a man in each Parish at the least” – getting him from parties of authority as your College to check from petty or impertinent mischief as in Robertson’s case to leave him as far as his respect & comfort admit to his own earnings from the people to check their his indifference to pain. A committee in each parish would generate a sum for so vital a purpose. Poolewe is poor & still it can & will support a proper medical man if we only felt assured as to his qualifications -

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

9 Mr Bankes lives here in summer & harvest. He lives on his English Estates in winter. Dr McKenzie Factor for Sir Kenneth MacKenzie (a minor) &/or Sir Alexander McKenzie lives here at present. Lady MacKenzie Gairloch is in Poolewe at present. Mr Bankes is the only resident Heritor & his yearly income is worth all the rest together

[[Additional Text]]³

Poolewe Manse
Novr 18th 1850.
Dr Coldstream;
Dear Sir;
This place is a clear proof that your object is a benevolent one – I am not at liberty therefore to conceal truth from any personal delicacy. Of course I write with the usual confidence in such cases.
J.S.M.

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Explanatory notes:

1. Manuscript damaged but does not affect writing.
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.
3. Written at top of page.