Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from James Brotchie"

Westray, Orkney.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/185

James Brotchie was a church minister in Westray.

Westray was a parish in the Orkney Islands. In 1831, the population was 2032. The main industry was agriculture and livestock breeding. There were some quarries on Westray and Papa Westray as well as fisheries.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
James Brotchie
Westray
by Kirkwall

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

[no text]

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?

[no text]

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?

[no text]

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

[no text]

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?

[no text]

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

[no text]

[[Additional Text]]

[[Letter]]

Manse of Westray
8th January 1851
Sir
Instead of answering the “Queries” separatly² I consider the following statement will be sufficient -
The want of properly qualified medical practitioners has been severely felt in these Islands.
In this Parish lived Persons, the late Parish
schoolmaster and a Mr William Kendal have been practising medicine for these several years past – the former died upwards of two years ago – the latter still continues his practices and what is the extent of his qualifications I cannot say, as from the commencement of my ministry here (now more than 18 years) I have found it necessary to have no intercourse
with him.
The only resident Heritor in this Island is James Hewart Esq of Brough a gentleman of extensive property, and of very generous disposition.
If a well recommended and duly qualified young medical gentleman was to commence practice in this Parish, I have not the least doubt of his success,
[[Front Left]]
and to encourage such a measure I will give every assistance in my power to render his situation comfortable-
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
James Brotchie

Dr Coldstream
Edinburgh

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. Misspelling of “separately”.

"Survey return from James Brotchie"

Westray, Orkney.

1850.

James Brotchie was a church minister in Westray.

Westray was a parish in the Orkney Islands. In 1831, the population was 2032. The main industry was agriculture and livestock breeding. There were some quarries on Westray and Papa Westray as well as fisheries.

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. Misspelling of “separately”.

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. Misspelling of “separately”.