Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from William Mackintosh"

Stronsay, Orkney.

1851.

RCP/COL/4/8/254

William Mackintosh was a medical practitioner in Stronsay.

Stronsay (with Eday) was a united island parish in Orkney. In 1887, the population was 1274. The main industry was agriculture and horse, cattle, and sheep breeding. There were also some fisheries.

[[Addressee]]
Left Stronsay¹
Dr W MacIntosh
Stronsay
Orkney
Fry Hambleton’s Lodging
62 Thisle Street
Edinburg¹

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

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

Two years in Stronsay
the locality in which I practiced last

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

ordinary from one hundred yards to three miles. greatest
from three to five miles

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

3 Riding

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

4 Extremely Bad

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

5 I am inclined to think that it is worse

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?

Stronsay is said to extend seven miles
between its extreme points, and its
population would in general fully employ him

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?

Highly inadequate remuneration for attendance
upon the Poor, and vexatious procrastination
in giving that itself apparently owing to an
unseasonable economy on the part of the local
Boards² which if not counteracted by humanity
on the part of the Medical Practitioner, would
often render his attendance upon the Poor very
inefficient.

[[Additional text]]

I am
Gentlemen
Your Most Obedt Servant
William Mackintosh

Explanatory notes:

1. Written in another hand.
2. Following the Poor Law Amendment (Scotland) Act of 1845 parochial boards were set up in each parish to administer poor relief.

"Survey return from William Mackintosh"

Stronsay, Orkney.

1851.

William Mackintosh was a medical practitioner in Stronsay.

Stronsay (with Eday) was a united island parish in Orkney. In 1887, the population was 1274. The main industry was agriculture and horse, cattle, and sheep breeding. There were also some fisheries.

1. Written in another hand. 2. Following the Poor Law Amendment (Scotland) Act of 1845 parochial boards were set up in each parish to administer poor relief.

1. Written in another hand.
2. Following the Poor Law Amendment (Scotland) Act of 1845 parochial boards were set up in each parish to administer poor relief.