Remote & Rural Remedies

Click on a page for the full-size image:
- Page1
- Page2
Click on a page for the full-size image:
- Page1
- Page2
"Survey return from John MacRae"

Stornoway.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/155

John MacRae was a church minister in Stornoway.

Stornoway was a parish, town and seaport on the Isle of Lewis in the historic County of Ross and Cromarty. It also contained the quoad sacra parish of Knock and the village of Back. The population in 1831 was 5491. The main industry was agriculture with a little livestock breeding.

[[Addressee]]
The Rev.
John MacRae
Stornoway

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

Two

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Mr Rodk Millar Surgeon
Charles McRae M.D.

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

Neither

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

None

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

There is ground for complaint owing to the two referred to being obliged to supply the whole Island.-

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, but from the extent, [manuscript damaged]¹, & populousness of the Island such cases must exist, and I have heard of many.

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

to some extent by Ministers’ families

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?

No-

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

Sir³ James Matheson Esqr Bart⁴ of Achany and Lewis M.P.

Explanatory notes:

1. Page is smudged covering the word.
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 in pencil.
4. Written in pencil above Esqr which has been crossed out.

"Survey return from John MacRae"

Stornoway.

1850.

John MacRae was a church minister in Stornoway.

Stornoway was a parish, town and seaport on the Isle of Lewis in the historic County of Ross and Cromarty. It also contained the quoad sacra parish of Knock and the village of Back. The population in 1831 was 5491. The main industry was agriculture with a little livestock breeding.