Remote & Rural Remedies

"Survey return from W. B. Ross"

Tain.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/225

W. B. Ross was a medical practitioner in Tain.

Tain was a parish and market town in the historic County of Ross and Cromarty and contained the village of Inver. The main industries in the parish were distilling, brewing, iron foundry, and wool production. In 1836, the population was 2915.

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[[Addressee]]
Dr Ross
Tain

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

Twelve years

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

I visit some Patients at a distance of 20 miles
but the ordinary circuits of visits may be
eight miles –

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

I keep two horses – a [close] & an open
carriage

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

In every direction very good

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

I would answer – the “status” is improved –
but not the emoluments – for their numbers
have considerably increased, & there are
many absenters – of the class that pay [1 word illegible]

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?

It is not possible to answer this question,
because large districts are almost uninhabited,
while others are very densely peopled

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?

I really have no complaint
to make

[[Additional text]]

WB Ross MD
Tain 25th August
1851