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"Survey return from John MacLeod"
Ballahulish, Fort William.
1850.
RCP/COL/4/8/132
John MacLeod was a church minister in Ballachulish (also known as Ballahulish).
Ballachulish was a village in the Lismore and Appin parish in the historic County of Argyle. In 1891, the population was 1045. There were quarries in the parish and it was well connected to its surroundings.
[[Addressee]]
The Revd
John MacLeod
Ballahulish
Fort William
[[Survey]]
QUERIES
1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Ballachulish?
This is a Government Parish and no medical man resides in it. But it forms a part of the parish of Kilmalie. Two medical men practise in this parish who reside at Fort William about 17 miles distant, but the principal practise is confined to one viz:
2. The Names and Addresses of these.
Dr. William Kennedy Fort William –
The other is
Charles Crichton Surgeon.
3. Has the number increased or diminished of late years?
The above two Gentlemen have practised for upwards of eighteen years
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?
No. The distance at which they reside may form a ground of complaint. There is a medical man within 3 or 4 miles but the people prefer sending for Dr Kennedy.
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?
No
7. To what extent is the deficiency of qualified Practitioners made up by the efforts of other parties?
A gentleman who has retired from the profession living in the parish is liberal with his means, time, and professional advice.
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 population is poor in general and Fort William contains a large population & is the centre of the districts, that it is supposed a medical man should reside there for the Convenience of all parties.
9. What Heritors1 are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?
Col. McLean of Ardgour
Sir Duncan Cameron }2 resident Locheil occasionally.
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.
2. A bracket to show both McLean and Cameron are resident in Locheil occasionally.
Remote & Rural Remedies
