| Reference Number | 96 |
| Title | Eolas agus Seoladh: air son Luchd-euslainte |
| Author | Mac ’Ille-Dhuibh, D. |
| Editor | N/A |
| Date Of Edition | 1877 |
| Date Of Language | late 19c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 1850-1899 |
| DateMacro | Late 19th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | G. Mac-Na-Ceardadh |
| Place Published | Glaschu |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | National and academic libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Mull; Poolewe, Wester Ross |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Mull |
| GeoMacro | Mull, Coll and Tiree |
| GeoX | -6.2959 |
| GeoY | 56.4601 |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Instruction, Prose (Healthcare) |
| Register Ed | Education, Prose |
| Genre | Information |
| Medium | Prose |
| Rating | B Informative text relating to healthcare in the home. Contains medical description, but is written in a layman’s language. Covers subjects such as the body, food and drink, cleanliness, ill health (including disease), caring for patients, childbirth, and caring for children. Also discusses the problems inherent in the types of housing commonly found in the Highlands at the time. |
| Alternative Author Name | Donald Black |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 17.7cm x 12.2cm |
| Short Title | Eòlas agus Seòladh |
| Reference Details | EUL: Sp. Coll. C. R.Box1.10 |
| Number Of Pages | 36 |
| Gaelic Text By | N/A |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | Donald Black was born in Salen, Mull, in or around 1839 and died in Liverpool in 1882. He studied medicine at Glasgow University and gained his licentiate in 1868. He was practising as a doctor in Gairloch and Poolewe between 1871 and 1881. See also Further Reading below. It is noteworthy that this text is addressed specifically to women: A mhnathan agus a mhaighdeanna gàidhealach (p. v). For the subject-matter of this text, compare Text 53, Banaltrumachd aig an Tigh. |
| Contents | This volume begins with a Clar-Innsidh and a Roimh-Radh. The author states in the Roimh-Radha, that in writing this book, ‘Feuchaidh mi ri beagan seòlaidh a thoirt dhuibh mu fhrithealadh aig leaba na h-euslainte’, and that ‘Tha ’n am bheachd ’san leabhar so a h-uile deuchainn a tha ann am chomas a chleachdadh chum fiosrachadh a thoirt do m’ luchd-dùthcha a thaobh gach ni a shaoileas mi bhiodh feumail chum slàinte, no frithealadh aig leaba tinnis; beachd aithghearr a thoirt do mhnaoi eiridinn air na nithibh bu chòir dhi a dheanamh agus a chleachdadh timchioll leaba-shiùbhla; ’sa thaobh frithealadh do chloinn, ’s nan nithe a tha feumail ri a ’n cleachdadh ’n an togail ’s ’n an àrach, innseadh’. He also points out that ‘Cha ’n ’eil a rùn orm eòlas a thoirt dhuibh air cungaidhean leighis, mar a tha anns a bheurla ann an leabhraichean-leighis air son teaghlich’; he believes this can do more harm than good, as it can deter people from calling a doctor. This volume then contains 24 sections as follows: Slàinte Cuirp (pp. 9-10), Biadh (pp. 10-11), Glaine (pp. 11-12), Aodach (p. 12), Saothair agus Tàmh (p. 13), Tàmh (p. 13), Cleachdaidhean a tha an aghaidh slàinte, agus ’n an aobharaibh air euslàint’ (p. 13), Tigh fallain (pp. 13-14), Glaine (pp. 14-15), Tiormachd (pp. 15-16), Uisge glan (p. 17), Aileadh glan (pp. 17-18), Solus (pp. 18-19), A’ bhean-fhrithealaidh (pp. 19-20), Ciod nach bu chòir do bhean-fhrithealaidh a bhith, agus ciod bu chòir dhi bhith (p. 20), Bean eiridinn, ciamar bu chòir dhi bhith agus a dheanadh a measg tinnis (pp. 20-22), Leabaidh agus aodach leapa (pp. 22-24), Cungaidh-Leighis (pp. 24-25), Biadh air son neach tinn (pp. 25-26), Mu ghabhail bidh (pp. 26-28), Leaba-shiùbhla (pp. 28-31), Altrum agus Eiridinn Cloinne (pp. 31-35), Rùsgadh na Briseadh Craicinn (p. 35), and Losgadh agus Sgaldadh (pp. 35-36). |
| Sources | |
| Language | The subject-matter of this text is healthcare in the home. Although it may be described as a medical text, it is mostly written in layman’s language. Throughout the text, Black is concerned to explain the different ways in which the body works, e.g. ‘Tha corp an duine ’n a obair-innealta, no na innleachd do oibrichibh; air a dheanamh, agus gach ball dheth air a chur ri cheile ni’s glice, ’s na’s iongantaiche, na aon obair no innleachd, a rinn mac duine riamh’ (p. 9), ‘Tha cnaimh, feòil, féithean, agus eanchainn a’ tarruing ás an fhuil gach ni a dh’ fheumas iad air son an deanamh suas’ (p. 10), ‘A h-uile uair a thàirneas sinn anail tha ’n sgamhan a’ gabhail tomhais do ’n àile ghlan chum glanadh na fala. Agus a h-uile uair a chuireas sinn anail a mach ás gach cuinnean tha i a giùlan salachar leatha ás an fhuil na cheò ghlas’ (p. 18), and ‘Tha ma thimchioll seachd ùnnsacha deug thar fhichead ag éiridh na smùid, no na cheò o’n sgamhan agus o’n chraicionn aig neach slàn eadar an là agus an oidhche’ (p. 23). In Biadh (pp. 10-11) and Glaine (pp. 11-12), Black describes how to prepare and eat food properly, emphasises the importance of keeping the skin clean, and he explains how sweat glands work, e.g. ‘fasaidh galar anns a’ chraicionn na bithidh an fhuil air coire a dheanadh dhi le bhi air a comh-éigneachadh gu ’bhi a’ gleidheadh nithean neo-ghlan. Leis a sin bithidh an fhuil truaillte; air neo faodaidh e ’bhi, gu feum ball eile, mar tha na h-àirnean an obair a dheanadh a thuille air an obair fhein; agus faodaidh tinneas trom tighinn ’n a dhéidh sin’ (p. 11). Black also considers some of the habits that are conducive to ill health, e.g. ‘Leisg, dìomhanas, slaodaireachd, ana-miann, neo-ghloine, sògh, an t-anbharr do dheoch làidir agus do thombaca, ana-measrach, agus mi-riaghailteach aig tràth bìdh’ (p. 13), and he describes one of the common ailments in the Highlands: ‘Tha broth mìn dearg, no sgàrlaid an lorg an tinnis so, air uairibh tha e garbh ann am bàrr a chraicinn. Tha iad a’ cur mòran fallas dhiu leis. ’N uair a théid am fallas salach sin a stigh, tha iad trom, tinn, neo-shunndach, ’s pian ’n an cnàmhaibh aca’ (p. 23), which Black attributes to ‘ceò fallais, ’s droch ceò agus fàileadh eile feadh an t-seòmair a tha na cheann-aobhair air an tinnis seo’ (p. 24). Black also mentions one or two other diseases: ‘Is iad na h-eucailean sònraichte a tha dìreach an lorg gainne bìdh agus lòn mi-fhallain, scurbhi, fuasgladh cuim, gearrach, siubhal, fiabhruis, tinneas-an-righ, siltichean, agus nàdur do thinneas caitheamh a measg cloinne’ (p. 10). In Cungaidh-Leighis (pp. 24-25), Black looks at how to keep patients comfortable if they are bed-ridden: ‘feumar an ro aire ’thoirt nach tig creuchd-leapa air, ’s e sin nach falbh an craicionn thar nan cruachan, no thar mìr sam bith do’n chorp’ (p. 24). If they do suffer, he recommends ‘deur uisge-bheatha no branndi a shuathadh ris’ and ‘poca beag do rubair-Innseinach air cuma crudha eich, air a lìonadh le gaoith no uisge’ (p. 24). In Biadh air son neach tinn (pp. 25-26), Black discusses the best types of food and drink to give a patient: ‘Tha tì ni’s freagarraiche na coffee do neach tinn’ (p. 26) and ‘Tha ubh air a bhriseadh le bàrr agus deur branndi na mheasg feumail do neach ro lag ’s a tha iosail le tinneas’ (p. 26). Black spends some time discussing the importance of keeping a clean house, noting that a ‘tinneas gabhaltach’ will hit ‘taighean salach le droch àile’ first (p. 17), and that ‘cha-n ’eil e furasda bothan dubh a ghlanadh o thinneas gabhaltach’ (p. 17). He also states that ‘Tha cion soluis a’ cur stad air fàs, agus ’n a aobhar air iomadh gnè thinneas a measg cloinne’ (p. 18). However, he informs us that ‘Tha cùig nithe feumail gu tigh a dheanadh fallain: 1. Glaine a mach ’s a stigh. 2. Tiormachd, le guitearaibh a bhi mu ’thimchioll. 3. Uisge glan. 4. Aìle glan, no gaoth ghlan. 5. Solus, no soillse gu leòir. As eugmhais nan cóig nithe sin cha ’n uarainn (sic, for urrainn) tigh a bhi slàinteil’ (p. 14). In order to keep a clean house, ‘bu chòir na ballachan agus am mullach a steach a ghlanadh le uisge aoil dà uair ’s a bhliadhna. Cha ’n urrainn àile an tighe bhi caoin agus òtrach fo ’n uinneig, no aig an dorus, no feudaidh e bhi an ceann eile an tighe; mar is tric a thachair ann an tighibh feadh na Gàidhealtachd’ (p. 14). Black talks at length on the problems of housing in the Highlands: ‘Gu minic air an dùthaich is e talamh no criadh a th’ ann an ùrlar an tighe; am balla cùil air a thogail ri bruaich gun chlais ’s gun ghuitear timchioll air; an t’ uisge ’sìoladh troimh ’n bhalla a stigh air an ùrlar: agus snithe ’sileadh troimh mhullach an tighe, a’ fàgail an tighe fuar, fliùch, neo-fhallain ealamh gu fiabhrus-lòine agus iomadh gnè euslaint’ a thogail’ (p. 15), noting that there are often only one or two rooms to house a large family, ‘’s na h-uile ni ’ga dheanadh a stigh. Lìon, bollachan, craicinn, iasg, ùilleadh, cloimh, agus armadh, ga’n gleidheadh a stigh’ (p. 17). While noting that some people are of the opinion that, as their fathers and their grandfathers lived in such houses, there is no reason why they should not live in them today, Black explains that people in those days were healthier as they ate better and did not have to work so hard for their food: ‘Is ann a tha thusa ’s do theaghlach lag a’ tighinn beò air a bhochduinn, air bheag bìdh ’s aodaich, ’s cia mar ’s urrainn thusa ’s do theaghlach a bhi làidir, fallan, a tha tighinn beò mar so ann an salchar ’s a’m mosaiche?’ (p. 19). In building a new house, ‘bu chòir an làrach a thaghadh ann an àite tioram seasgar: an talamh a chladhach a mach ás an taobh a stigh, agus an t-ùrlar a thogail troidh no ni ’s mò o s ceann na làraiche’ (p. 16). In the chapters on A’ bhean-frithealaidh (pp. 19-20) and Bean eiridinn (pp. 20-22), Black spends some time looking at acceptable behaviour for people caring for patients: ‘Cha bu chòir do bhean-fhrithealaidh a bhi neo-fhoighidneach, colgach, feargach, àrdanach, mi-shuairce, neo-sheirceil, neo-chaoimhneil, lonach no luath-bheulach, ag innseadh na h-uile nì a chunnaic ’s a chual i, agus dà rud dheag nach cuala ’s nach fac i riamh’ (p. 20). He also looks at bedding: ‘Tha sean leaba do fhiodh le cuirteinibh mi-fhallain do neach slàn no euslàn. ’Si leaba iarruinn is fearr, agus leab-iochdrach do ghaoisid’ (p. 22). Pages 28-35 are concerned with childbirth and looking after children. Black advises that ‘’S còir a bhean-shiùbhla a chumail glan agus tioram; ’s a glanadh (buill dhìomhair) a h-uile latha fad seachduin, le uisge meagh-bhlath agus le spuing, no le clùd, agus deur uisge-beatha na mheasg’ (p. 30), and that ‘mur is luaithe théid an naoidhean ris a’ bhroilleach an déigh a bhreith ’s ann is feàrr’ (p. 31) because ‘Ni an ceud bhainne purgaid do’n naoidhean’ (p. 31). Other terms and expressions of interest in this section include ‘air mnaoi ’na luidhe-shiùbhla’ (p. 28), ‘Ceangail agus gearr an imleag’ (p 28), ‘ann an saothair chruaidh’ (p. 29), ‘Thug e saothair cloinne air aghart oirre’ (p. 29), ‘cuid do mhnathaibh-glùine’ (p. 30), ‘an dùil gu’n cum sin air falbh ainteas’ (pp. 30-31). On pp. 31-32, Black compares the milk from the mother’s breast with that of other animals. If mother’s milk is not available, the next best thing that is available in the Highlands is cow’s milk, but this must be augmented to make it more like breast-milk: ‘Eadar-dhealachadh cudthromach a’s mò a tha eadar bainne mnatha agus bainne mairt, am meall teann a ni ’n gruth ann am bainne mairt le binndichidh. Cruaidhaichidh e na mheall tiugh air an stamaic, ’s cha-n ’eil e cho furasda chnàmh ri bainne mnatha’ (p. 32). Two solutions are to add water and sugar, or ‘uisge eòrna a chur ’na mheasg, leth mar leth’ (p. 33). Pages 35-36 deal with the treatment of children who have been burnt or scalded. In general, the language of this text is contemporary, i.e. late 19th century. However, there are also some conservative features more usually associated with texts of the early 19th century or earlier, most notably the numerous dative plural forms in -(a)ibh. |
| Orthography | The orthography is typical of the late nineteenth century. There are some spelling mistakes, printers’ errors and some spelling inconsistencies (e.g. cha ’n’ and cha-n, deanadh and deanamh), but the meaning is usually transparent. Both grave and acute accents are employed, regularly and pretty consistently, throughout this text. |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Other Sources | The identification of Dr Black is due to Jane Macintyre of Gairloch Heritage Museum, where further details of his family and life-story are now lodged. Faclair na Gàidhlig and DASG are indebted to Ms Macintyre for sharing the results of her researches. |
| Further Reading | |
| Credits | |
| Link Label | Digital version created by National Library of Scotland |
| Link | http://digital.nls.uk/early-gaelic-book-collections/pageturner.cfm?id=79091013 |
| Download File | 96.pdf |
| NumWords | 12268 |
