Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from Call. McDonald"

Portree.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/140

Call. McDonald was a church minister in Portree.

Portree (also known as Porttree and Port A Roi) was a parish on the Isle of Skye in the historic County of Inverness. The parish contained the islands of Fladda, Rasay and Rona. Its harbour was regularly visited by ships from the mainland (Glasgow) and exported cattle and salmon. There was not much agriculture in the parish. In 1831, the population was 3441.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
Call. McDonald
Portree

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

only one

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Alexr MacLeod Portree Isle of Sky-

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

Diminished

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

Yes & for want of proper encouragement & the means of subsistence

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

numerous complaints.

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 at present no recollection of any such cases

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

There are some families in the Parish who keep simple medicines and give an occasional supply to the poor.

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 do not know of a measure for preventing the evil, but an allowance by the public to the medical Practitioner.

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

Only one Heritor Mr Rainy the Proprietor of the Estate of Rasay

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 Call. McDonald"

Portree.

1850.

Call. McDonald was a church minister in Portree.

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.