Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from Peter Learmonth"

Stromness.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/175

Peter Learmonth was a church minister in Stromness.

Stromness was a parish and a market and seaport town on the Orkney Islands. In 1887, its population was 2410. It had an accessible harbour, with many inhabitants employed in fishing. The parish also had a distillery, ropeworks and shipbuilding yards.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
Peter Learmonth
Stromness

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

Three

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

Mr Garson, Mr Hamilton and Mr Ballantyne

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?

One left for the West Indies about eleven years ago; I suppose to better his condition

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

Though I believe that I am more among the poor than any other minister owing to the majority of them being connected with my charge, yet¹ have never heard of any 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?

Do not know of any. I have found the most afflicted carefully attended to by Dr Garson, who is very kind² and attentive to the poor.

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

See answer to query fifth

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?

Have no suggestions to offer

9. What Heritors³ are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?

Messrs Pollexfen and Watt are the principal Heritors, the former resides in Edinr and the latter at Skail in the neighbouring Parish of Sandwick

[[Additional Text]]

Stromness 9th Decr 1850
Peter Learmonth Minister

Explanatory notes:

1. Continues into answer box for query 6.
2. Continues into answer box for query 7.
3. 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 Peter Learmonth"

Stromness.

1850.

Peter Learmonth was a church minister in Stromness.

Stromness was a parish and a market and seaport town on the Orkney Islands. In 1887, its population was 2410. It had an accessible harbour, with many inhabitants employed in fishing. The parish also had a distillery, ropeworks and shipbuilding yards.