Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from The Minister of St Andrews"

by Kirkwall.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/161

No name is given in the survey for this individual.

St Andrews was a parish on the mainland of Orkney. In 1831, the population was 857. The main industry was agriculture with some livestock breeding and kelp manufacturing.

[[Addressee]]
To the Revd
The Minister of the Parish
of St Andrews
by Kirkwall

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of St Andrews Orkney - ?

none

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

[no text]

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

There never has been a medical practitioner in this parish

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

[no text]

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

Very many and loud 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?

Many such cases could be adduced - nay it may be added that many lives have been lost for the want of medical aid

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

To no extent, except in the person of a very inadequately qualified midwife

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 would suggest that a Medical Man be stationed at a central situation between the two parishes of St. Andrews & Deerness - and perhaps a third adjoining parish that of Holm might be embraced in the field - the parochial board, and families in the district contributing so far to his support - The boon would be great- there being no medical aid nearer than at Kirkwall - a distance to some of 15 miles - not to speak of the heavy expence incurred by such as avail themselves of such aid.

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

Only one Heritor James Baikie Esq of Tankerness

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 The Minister of St Andrews"

by Kirkwall.

1850.

No name is given in the survey for this individual.

St Andrews was a parish on the mainland of Orkney. In 1831, the population was 857. The main industry was agriculture with some livestock breeding and kelp manufacturing.

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.