Chapter:

Dr. James Murdoch M.D. of Craigow 1785-1848
Early Pioneer of Medicine in Van Diemens Land

3.

"Practical Observations on the extraction of the Placenta" by James Murdoch MD, lecturer in Midwifery, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and one of the Physician Accoucheurs to the New Town Dispensary 48p.p, Edinburgh 1818 Price 1/6, and

"Dissection of a Human Monster" published in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal Vol 17 1821 for April.

The Edinburgh Directories give Dr. James' designation and places of residence as follows:

• 1810-11  James Murdoch Surgeon -18 Leith St

• 1811-12  James Murdoch Surgeon - 4 North St David St

• 1812-17  Dr. James Murdoch - 21 Clyde St

• 1817-20  Dr. James Murdoch - 22 St James Sq.

After that date he disappears from the Directory.

It would seem that he gave up his practice in Edinburgh and ceased to reside there about the beginning of March 1820.

There is in existence a journal of his professional attendances from 1814 to 1828. His earnings in:

• 1814 were approx. £100

• 1815 - £89.10.0

• 1816 - £126.1.3

• 1817 - £258.2.6

• 1818 - £473.4.3

• 1819 - £432.14.6.

This covers the period he practised in Edinburgh and the last entry there is 18/1/1820.

He seems to have concentrated on obstetrics from:

• 1815 when he dealt with 32 cases

• 1816 - 49 cases

• 1817 - 42 cases

• 1818 to Nov 1818 - 20 cases

Here the records end. They are well documented and most cases are dealt with in detail.

Dr. James and his wife visited France in 1819 for three months. Some years ago a passport for "M. le docteur Murdoch, Anglais avec son spouse" was in the possession of a member of the family, allowing them to land at Dieppe, issued in London on 8 September 1819. He bought his wife a gold brooch in Paris on this trip.

The Murdoch's first child was John, born in Midlothian Edinburgh on 28th October 1814. A daughter Antonia arrived on 14 July 1816, born in Kinross, Scotland. Mary, the second daughter, was born on 3 September 1819 in St James Sq, Edinburgh and James Beveridge arrived on 31 July 1820, also born in Edinburgh.