Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from John Macrae"

Glenelg, Lochalsh.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/121

John Macrae was a church minister in Glenelg.

Glenelg was a parish and a village in the historic County of Inverness and also contained the village of Armsdale. In 1831, the population was 2874. The main industry was agriculture. The parish was generally well-connected.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
John Macrae
Glenelg
Lochalsh

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

None resides within this, or the two so religious Parishes of Glenshiel or Kintail – the whole district being 50 miles by 30 in extent, and containing a population of upwards of 5000 souls.

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

The Surgeon who has charge of the paupers is Dr Macdonald – who resides at Isleornsay in Skye. by Broadford.

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?

No

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

There is. and much desire for the benefit of a resident Practitioner

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?

Such cases are of frequent occurrence and I have known several

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

I myself keep some medicines and prescribe. but my skill being limited, my efforts are very inadequate to supply the want a regular Physician.

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?

The only measure which appears to me practicable is that the three Parishes should unite in employing one medical man for the paupers– and the gentry combine to make up a salary be subscription

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

The only resident Heritor is AE. R Macdonell Esq. of Glengarry. who generally resides on his estate of Knoydart in this Parish, but is at present in Edinburgh for medical advice on his own case

[[Additional Text]]

J Macrae
Minr of Glenelg

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 Macrae"

Glenelg, Lochalsh.

1850.

John Macrae was a church minister in Glenelg.

Glenelg was a parish and a village in the historic County of Inverness and also contained the village of Armsdale. In 1831, the population was 2874. The main industry was agriculture. The parish was generally well-connected.

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.