Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from William Beattie"

Evie, by Kirkwall.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/164

William Beattie was a church minister in Evie.

Evie (and Rendall) was a parish on the mainland of Orkney. The population in 1851 was 1408. The main industry was agriculture.

[[Addressee]]
The Rev
Will. Beattie
Evie
by Kirkwall

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Evie & Rendall?

A medical practitioner never resided either in the parish of Evie or Rendall, nor so far as I am aware in Birsay or Harray to the west of them, Rousay to the north, or Firth to the south, the sea is on the east.

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

[no text]

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

[no text]

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?

The people have been so little accustomed to medical relief, that they scarcely know the benefit of it. Some occasionally send to Kirkwall, a distance of 18 or 20 miles by land & 14 by sea, but few are able to do so, as the fee is £3…… in the neighbourhood of the Manse & more to the north of it, even although a horse or a boat is sent to bring the medical man to the locality.

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?

There are few cases of accident, any that have occurred within my knowledge, the patient has been immediately removed to Kirkwall - but I believe that there are many cases of disease & suffering that might be alleviated by proper medical advice if it had been at hand.

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

The deficiency of qualified Practitioners is made up chiefly by Clergymen or rather in this quarter by Clergymen’s wives who I believe in many cases do much good, but in others perhaps they do evil. -

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 deficiency of medical aid could not be fully made up except by the residence of a qualified practitioner, but owing to the poverty of the inhabitants he could not be supported without a certain amount of salary from some other quarter. -
A proper stock of common medicines, however, with some short directions as to their uses, would in the possession of a prudent person be of very considerable importance.

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

All the large Heritors are nonresident, & the smaller ones are as poor as the tenants & the great majority of these are mere Crofters -

[[Additional Text]]

The above Queries have been answered by me this 9th day of Decr 1850
WBeattie Minister of Evie & Rendall

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 William Beattie"

Evie, by Kirkwall.

1850.

William Beattie was a church minister in Evie.

Evie (and Rendall) was a parish on the mainland of Orkney. The population in 1851 was 1408. The main industry was agriculture.

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.