Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from Charles Cook"

Lamlash, Arran.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/206

Charles Cook was a medical practitioner in Lamlash.

Lamlash was an island village on the east coast of Arran and was a part of the parish of Kilbride. It had a good refuge-harbour. In 1834, the village had a population under 400. For further information on the whole parish, see the entry for Kilbride.

[[Addressee]]
C. Cook. Esq
Surgeon
Lamlash
Arran

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How long have you practiced in the locality you at present occupy?

Since 1834

2. What are the ordinary and what the greatest distances which you have to travel in visiting patients?

Often 10 on many occasions 24
and sometimes 30 miles

3. What means of conveyance do you employ in going long journeys?

Horse back

4. What is the state of the roads in your neighbourhood?

in general good but steep

5. Is the position of medical men in general in your quarter improved, or otherwise, of late years?

Since the Potato failure scarcely any
money can be got from 7/10 of the inhabitants

6. Supposing the people of the Highlands and Islands were generally able to pay for medical
advice, according to rates usually observed in other parts of the kingdom, what extent of
country in your locality would you regard as sufficient to occupy a single practitioner
fully?

the Island contains upwards of 5000 inhabitants
the length is 24 or 26 miles but as the road is
along the coast, I consider the road round is up
wards of 70 miles, and if all justice was done to them
it would take 4 medical men

7. Mention, if you please, any special hardships incident to your situation, such as you think
might be remedied by some general measure or enactment?

this Island consists
of two Parishes Kilmory, and Kilbride
Mr Andrew Stoddard, was appointed
Surgeon of the two Parishes when the were
under the volantary¹ assessment and
still continuing to be paid by the two Parishes
he is upwards of 18 miles from many of
the Paupers, he is not able to attend to
them all often I have to give relief advice
and medicine without any remuneration
as there’s only the two medical men in the
Island, if the sallery² of the two Parishes
was divided, as he lives at Brodick
and I at Lamlash, the north end would
answer him
and³ the South end me and I am sure the Poor
would get better Justice

[[Additional text]]

I am Gentlemen
Your most obd servant
Charles Cook

Explanatory notes:

1. Misspelling of “voluntary”.
2. Misspelling of “salary”.
3. From the word ‘and’ the text continues onto the addressee page.

"Survey return from Charles Cook"

Lamlash, Arran.

1851.

Charles Cook was a medical practitioner in Lamlash.

Lamlash was an island village on the east coast of Arran and was a part of the parish of Kilbride. It had a good refuge-harbour. In 1834, the village had a population under 400. For further information on the whole parish, see the entry for Kilbride.

1. Misspelling of “voluntary”. 2. Misspelling of “salary”. 3. From the word ‘and’ the text continues onto the addressee page.

1. Misspelling of “voluntary”.
2. Misspelling of “salary”.
3. From the word ‘and’ the text continues onto the addressee page.