Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from James Howie"

Ardshealach, by Strontian.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/217

James Howie was a medical practitioner in Ardshealach and Arkaroll.

At present no additional information about this location is available.

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[[Addressee]]
Mpr to Inverary
Dr Howie
Arkaroll
Argylleshire
By Acharacle
Strontian
[By] by appin
not for appin
Inverary¹

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

Seven years

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

The ordinary distances are from a quarter of a mile
to four teen miles and the greatest distances are from
twenty to thirty

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

I ride or sail when
the journey can be made in either of these ways, but [afterwards] I have
to travel on foot.

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

The Government roads are good
but I have to make by far the greater number of my visits when
they are of no use to me – the other roads are mere tracks over the roughest country

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

When I settled here the people had some money to pay for
medical attendance and medicine and were as willing to pay
as others in the same situation in life, but some the
failure of the potato crop they are reduced to
such poverty that they are unable to pay their
rents and have great difficulty in [procuring] even
the necessities of life and in nineteen cases
out of twenty I am not paid for my professional
services.

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?

In the counties of Morvern Ardnamurchan and
Knoydart and Moidart with which I am acquainted
the people [1 word illegible] as in other parts of the Kingdom there
might be a medical man appointed in every twelve miles
square.

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?

The greatest hardships I have to suffer is non-
payment for my services – I frequently
undergo more toil in making an effort
to obtain payment for my services than
I had to endure in rendering these – the
only remedy I can suggest for this hardship
is that the Parochial Authorities
should be compelled to accept of the
Government Grant on the terms
offered

[[Additional text]]

Ardshealach
4th September 1851
James Howie M.D
Ardshealach
By Strontian

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Explanatory notes:

1. Written in another hand next to the address.