Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from John Bryden"

Sandsting, Shetland.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/202

John Bryden was a church minister in Sandsting.

Sandsting was a united parish with Aithsting and included the islands of Little Papa and Vementry. The main industries were fishing and the mall coasting trade. In 1831, the population was 2177.

---

[[Addressee]]
To The Rev.
John Bryden
Sandsting
Lerwick

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

None by profession

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

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

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

The Minister having studied, to a certain extent, Medicine, when attending College, has for upwards of thirty years been, the only Medical practitioner in this & the surrounding Parishes, Gratis- No Medical man¹ could support himself in any of the country districts here, by his profession alone.

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 Heritors² are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?

Mr Humphray of Reawick is the only resident Heritor

[[Additional Text]]

A properly qualified Midwife is very much needed
John Bryden, Minr.
of Sandsting

---

Explanatory notes:

1. Part of this answer runs into the next box, but the next question is left unanswered.
2. 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.