Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from William Logie"

Firth, Orkney.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/170

William Logie was a church minister in Firth.

Firth was a united parish (with Stenness) on the mainland of Orkney and included the islets of Damsay, Grimbister Holm and the village of Finstown. In 1861, the population was 1493. There was some agriculture and oyster-fishing in the parish, with young women being employed in straw-plaiting.

[[Addressee]]
The Rev
W Logie
Firth
Kirkwall

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Firth and Stennis?

No medical man resident in these parishes There are four medical men in Kirkwall, four miles from the nearest point of Firth parish and three in Stromness two miles from ditto of Stennis parish. I give the names of those who are most employed –
James S.S. Logie Esq. M.D. & Surgeon – Kirkwall
& John M Hamilton Esq. Surgeon – Stromness

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

The other medical men who may occasionally practise in these parishes are –
A Dugiud Esq. M.D – Kirkwall
John Bremner Esq Surgeon – Kirkwall
George Garson Esq Surgeon – Stromness

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

Increased

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

No medical men ever resided in these parishes The population of both 1156 all miserably poor could not support a medical man for themselves and do not need one. They have help at hand though not within the parish.

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

None whatever & no ground for any

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?

None, but either from penury or penuriousness there is a culpable reluctance on the part of the people to send for medical aid when it is required, & they generally send when it is too late. This is a great evil, often leading to the most fatal consequences.

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

There is no deficiency.

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 evils do not exist

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

There are upwards of Sixty Heritors in the two united parishes most of them very inconsiderable & poor, in short peasant-proprietors. The larger & wealthier Heritors are non-resident except Robert Scarth Esq of Scarth & Mrs Stewart of Burness both residing partly in Kirkwall & partly in Firth by Kirkwall

[[Additional Text]]

William Logie
Minister of Firth and Stennis
Manse of Firth 2 Decr 1850
Firth & Stennis²

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.
2. Written at top right of page.

"Survey return from William Logie"

Firth, Orkney.

1850.

William Logie was a church minister in Firth.

Firth was a united parish (with Stenness) on the mainland of Orkney and included the islets of Damsay, Grimbister Holm and the village of Finstown. In 1861, the population was 1493. There was some agriculture and oyster-fishing in the parish, with young women being employed in straw-plaiting.

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. 2. Written at top right of page.

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.
2. Written at top right of page.