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"Survey return from Archibald Nichol"
Walls, by Lerwick.
1850.
RCP/COL/4/8/176
Archibald Nichol (also written as Nicoll) was a church minster in Walls.
Walls (and Sandness) was a parish on the Shetland Islands and comprised the islands of Foula, Papa Stour, Vaila and Linga. Most of the inhabitants were employed in fisheries and on farms. The population of the whole parish in 1845 was 2315, with 1104 of them living in Walls.
[[Addressee]]
The Rev.
Archd. Nicoll
Walls
by Lerwick
[[Survey]]
QUERIES
1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Walls?
There is only one individual who practices within this parish, only occasionally, as his residence is in another parish; and who tho’ a useful man, was never qualified, having been formerly for a series of years, a general assembly’s teacher – His practice does not include midwifry1, and he is miserably paid.
2. The Names and Addresses of these.
Mr Alexr Wallace
Stoneydale
parish of Sandsting
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 reason?
– none
5. Is there any complaint among the people of inadequacy in the supply of Medical aid?
There is a kind of despair, or rather apathy among the people, as if the hopeless condition in which they are left, in regard to competent medical aid, were necessarily their lot.
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?
I have known of several. There have been for example some very melancholy cases of child-labour which have terminated fatally, it is supposed from the want of competent medical skill.
7. To what extent is the deficiency of qualified Practitioners made up by the efforts of other parties?
Since I came to this Parish about 7 years ago, I soon began to learn the great want of medical aid: and conceiving it a duty to put in practice, in the position I held, the little medical knowledge I obtained while passing through my studies in Edinburgh, I have been for some years in the habit of giving assistance to the poor people. But with serious cases I never interfere– Besides myself there is no other acting in this way, in this extensive parish.
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 have often thought that from the isolated position of these islands and from the poverty of its landed proprietors, a strong application should be made to government, to induce it to appoint say Five or six salaried medical men in the most destitute localities in Shetland; as it is utterly impossible in the circumstances, except from some unforseen act of benevolence which cannot be [1 word illegible] upon, that sufficient medical aid can otherwise be obtained. This would no doubt be an anomalous case to deal with, but then2 it is to be remarked, we are in an anomalous position.
9. What Heritors3 are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?
The principal heritor, John Scott Esq. of Melby, is in London in bad health, and most likely will never return to the parish: The others are either non-resident, or very poor. –
[[Additional Text]]
Archd Nichol Minr of Walls
Manse of Walls
4th Decr 1850
Explanatory notes:
1. Misspelling of “midwifery”.
2. Continues into answer box for query 9.
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.
Remote & Rural Remedies
