Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from Zach. M. Hamilton"

Bressay, Shetland.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/187

Zach. M. Hamilton was a church minister in Bressay.

Bressay was a united parish with Burra and Quarff and comprised six islands which formed the mainland of Shetland. It had a large harbour with many ships for whale and herring fisheries. There were a few farms and some quarries as well. In 1831, the population of the whole parish was 1699.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
Zach. Hamilton
Bressay
Lerwick

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

There are no medical Practitioners in this Parish – but owing to our close neighbourhood to the village of Lerwick invalids receive medical aid from there

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

There is only one qualified practitioner at present in Lerwick & his address is “John Barrie Esqr Surgeon Lerwick”-

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

There never, so far as I know, has been a medical practitioner resident in Bressay

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

Two medical practitioners have within a very few years died in Lerwick. & one moved to a distant Island, to suit his private convenience without, regard to practise

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

This parish is within the close neighbourhood of the village of Lerwick, & therefore, in general there can be no grounds for such a complaint- except in very course weather. the parishes being separated by an arm of the sea

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 do not- firstly from the circumstance of our being so near Lerwick & partly as explained in the answer to the following querie –

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

The Incumbent of the parish had been a student of Medicine & he keeps a limited supply of medicines & instruments for the benefit of his parishioners, & which he bestows gratuitously

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?

This is a difficult question & in many of the poor & remote districts, it could not be an object for a medical man to reside- & in my opinion it would be almost better to have none than an ignorant half educated person.

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

Captain Cameron Mouat of Garth is the sole proprietor of the Island & generally resident

[[Additional Text]]

Z.M. Hamilton Minir of Bressay

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 Zach. M. Hamilton"

Bressay, Shetland.

1850.

Zach. M. Hamilton was a church minister in Bressay.

Bressay was a united parish with Burra and Quarff and comprised six islands which formed the mainland of Shetland. It had a large harbour with many ships for whale and herring fisheries. There were a few farms and some quarries as well. In 1831, the population of the whole parish was 1699.

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.