Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from Roderick MacLean"

South Uist, by Lochmaddy.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/151

Roderick MacLean was a church minister in South Uist.

South Uist was a parish in the historic County Inverness. It contained multiple lakes and islets, and the islands of Benbecula, Eriskay and Flodda. There was a continuous population increase in the parish. The main industry was agriculture and cattle-breeding.

[[Addressee]]
The Rev.
Roderick MacLean
South Uist
By Lochmaddy

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

One

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Roderick MLean M.D.
Dremisdale¹
South Uist

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

There has been only one Medical Practitioner in South Uist at least, employed as such (except for two years) since I became connected with the Parish thirty five years ago – I mean at once.

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

Three surgeons left the Parish since I became its Minister- One resided in another Parish and visited us occasionally until he got another appointment in Skye- The second also got a situation on the Island of Skye and the third left this Parish three years ago and now resides on Barra where he holds a farm

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

Considering the great extent of the Parish and likewise its great population scattered throughout, I believe they are pretty well attended to- On this head I will refer you to our Medical officer.

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 am not aware of any such cases of late

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

I believe all that is done in the way of administering medicines of other Parties is, in the extremities of the Parish where sometimes the resident respectable families are called upon to aid the sick in the absence of our duly qualified Practitioner – but here I refer you to Dr. M’Lean.

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?

As to any suggestions on this head in to the extent of deficiency in rendering aid to the sick I would recommend you to apply to our district Practitioner for information- I will be happy to aid him in suggesting some appropriate measure when it is known the extent to which this may be needed-

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

Colonel Gordon of Cluny &c &c in Aberdeenshire, sole Heritor of this Parish
-Seldom visits us-

Explanatory notes:

1. Possibly a misspelling of “Drimsdale”.
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.

"Survey return from Roderick MacLean"

South Uist, by Lochmaddy.

1850.

Roderick MacLean was a church minister in South Uist.

South Uist was a parish in the historic County Inverness. It contained multiple lakes and islets, and the islands of Benbecula, Eriskay and Flodda. There was a continuous population increase in the parish. The main industry was agriculture and cattle-breeding.

1. Possibly a misspelling of “Drimsdale”. 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.

1. Possibly a misspelling of “Drimsdale”.
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.