{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T10:58:04Z","timestamp":1777892284508,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2011,12,1]],"date-time":"2011-12-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1322697600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2011,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Roger McNeill was born in 1853 on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides, the son of a cattle herder. He graduated with a degree in medicine from Edinburgh University, where he studied with Joseph Lister, among others. After working in London during a smallpox epidemic, he received a gold medal and honours for his M.D. thesis in 1881. McNeill returned to Scotland as the Resident Medical Officer at Gesto Hospital on the Isle of Skye. From there, he launched and published the first statistical research about the health of Highland crofters. His was an illustrious yet understated career in public health: he was the first president of the Caledonian Medical Society (1881\u201382), he earned a Diploma in Public Health from Cambridge University (1889), he was the first Medical Officer of Health for Argyll (1890\u20131924), wrote The Prevention of Epidemics and the Construction and Management of Isolation Hospitals (1894), and was the first witness before Parliament\u2019s Dewar Committee in Oban in 1912. McNeill and other members of the Caledonian Medical Society testified about medical services in remote Scotland, encouraging a revolution in healthcare throughout the Highlands and Islands. The committee\u2019s report led to the foundation of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service, a forerunner of the National Health Service established in 1948.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4997\/jrcpe.2011.415","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2011,12,14]],"date-time":"2011-12-14T11:14:00Z","timestamp":1323861240000},"page":"354-360","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Dr Roger McNeill and public health in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"41","author":[{"given":"JW","family":"Sheets","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2011,12,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"1 McCrae WM. The case for state medical services for the poor: the Highlands and Islands 1850 [Internet]. Edinburgh: The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; 2011 [cited 2011 Oct 18]. Available from: http:\/\/www.rcpe.ac.uk\/library\/read\/scotland\/highlands\/highlands.php"},{"key":"bibr2-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"2 Blackden S. From physicians\u2019 enquiry to Dewar Report: a survey of medical services in the West Highlands and islands of Scotland, 1852\u20131912. Proc Roy Coll Physicians Edinburgh 1998; 28:51\u201366, 207\u201317.","DOI":"10.1177\/147827159802800107"},{"key":"bibr3-JRCPE.2011.415","volume-title":"The National Health Service in Scotland: origins and ideas 1900\u20131950","author":"McCrae WM.","year":"2003"},{"key":"bibr4-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"4 McNeill M. Colonsay. One of the Hebrides. Edinburgh: David Douglas; 1910. p. 31."},{"key":"bibr5-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"5Colonsay Death Register (1859\/539\/2\/11): General Register Office for Scotland (GROS); Edinburgh."},{"key":"bibr6-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"6A medical diplomatist. Br Med J 1910; 2:977\u201379. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.2.2596.977","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.2.2596.977"},{"key":"bibr7-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"7Oban Times, 25 April 1874."},{"key":"bibr8-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"8Oban Times, 1 September 1877."},{"key":"bibr9-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"229","year":"1924","journal-title":"Caledonian Med J"},{"key":"bibr10-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"10Oban Times, 29 November 1890."},{"key":"bibr11-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"80","year":"1905","journal-title":"Caledonian Med J"},{"key":"bibr12-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"12Minute Book of the Caledonian Medical Society (RCPSG 36\/1). Glasgow: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow."},{"key":"bibr13-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"13Scotsman, 19 October 1912."},{"key":"bibr14-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"14Oban Times, 14 February 1891."},{"key":"bibr15-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"15 McNeill R. The diagnostic and prognostic value of the intial rashes of smallpox. Ed Med J 1885; 29:251\u201358, 438\u201343, 610\u201314."},{"key":"bibr16-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"1115","volume":"31","author":"McNeill R.","year":"1886","journal-title":"Ed Med J"},{"key":"bibr17-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"25","volume":"33","author":"McNeill R.","year":"1887","journal-title":"Ed Med J"},{"key":"bibr18-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"18Scotsman, 13 May 1886."},{"key":"bibr19-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"19 McNeill R. Remarks on the public health of the insular rural district of Scotland. Ed Med J 1887; 33:25\u201330, 134\u201340."},{"key":"bibr20-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"20 The Medical Directory 1920. 76th ed. London: J and A Churchill; 1920. p. 1414."},{"key":"bibr21-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"21Index to the Minutes of the Argyll County Council 1890\u20131904; I:36\u20137. Lochgilphead: Argyll and Bute District Archives."},{"key":"bibr22-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"22 McNeill R. The housing of the poor in the West Highlands. Caledonian Med J 1891; I:147\u201360, 328."},{"key":"bibr23-JRCPE.2011.415","volume-title":"The prevention of epidemics and the construction and management of isolation hospitals","author":"McNeill R.","year":"1894"},{"key":"bibr24-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"36","volume":"3723","year":"1895","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"bibr25-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"25[Book Review]. Br Med J 1895; 1:256. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.1.1779.256","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.1.1779.256"},{"key":"bibr26-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"1006","volume":"40","year":"1895","journal-title":"Ed Med J"},{"key":"bibr27-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"27Mackinnon Collection B1(38): Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Library; Edinburgh."},{"key":"bibr28-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"235","volume":"25","author":"Sheets JW.","year":"2009","journal-title":"Scottish Gaelic Studies"},{"key":"bibr29-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"29Oban Times, 9, 16, 23 May 1896."},{"key":"bibr30-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"91","author":"McNeill R.","year":"1899","journal-title":"Caledonian Med J"},{"key":"bibr31-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"31Importance of teaching domestic science. Br Med J 1899; 1123\u201324."},{"key":"bibr32-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"32Parish of Colonsay and Oronsay Minute Book: 30 January 1897, 28 April 1899, 5 April 1901, 20 June 1901, 23 October 1903, 23 October 1906, 25 June 1907, 24 September 1909, 21 December 1909, 18 March 1910, 3 February 1911. Lochgilphead: Argyll and Bute District Archives."},{"key":"bibr33-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"33Islay District Committee Minute Book: 27 September 1900, 7 February 1901. Lochgilphead: Argyll and Bute District Archives."},{"key":"bibr34-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"34Minutes of the Argyll County Council 1904\u201307. Lochgilphead: Argyll and Bute District Archives."},{"key":"bibr35-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"35 Moore L. Educating for the \u2018woman\u2019s\u2019 sphere: domestic training versus intellectual discipline. In: Breitenbach E, Gordon E, editors. Out of bounds: women in Scottish society 1800\u20131945. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; 1992. p. 10\u201341."},{"key":"bibr36-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"36Caledonian Medical Society Annual Meeting 1910. Caledonian Med J 1910; VIII:101, 289, 294\u201395."},{"key":"bibr37-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"37 Ferguson T. Scottish Social Welfare. Edinburgh: E&S Livingstone; 1958. p. 449\u201350."},{"key":"bibr38-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"38 Hamilton D. The Highlands and Islands medical services. In: McLachlan G, editor. Improving the common weal: aspects of Scottish Health Services 1900\u20131984. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; 1987. p. 483\u201390."},{"key":"bibr39-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"39Scotsman, 16 August 1915."},{"key":"bibr40-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"40Medical conditions in the Highlands. Br Med J 1912; 2: 517\u201318. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.2.2696.517","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.2.2696.517"},{"key":"bibr41-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"41Br Med J 1912; 2:658. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.2.2698.658","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.2.2698.658"},{"key":"bibr42-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"42Br Med J 1912; 2:1078\u201379. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.2.2703.1078","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.2.2703.1078"},{"key":"bibr43-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"43Br Med J 1912; 2:1163. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.2.2704.1163","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.2.2704.1163"},{"key":"bibr44-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"44 Day JP. Public Administration in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. London: University of London Press; 1918. p. 308."},{"key":"bibr45-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"45Highlands and Islands Medical Service Committee. Report to the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty\u2019s Treasury 1912 (Cd 6559) [Internet]. [cited 2011 Oct 24]. Available from: http:\/\/www.elib.scot.nhs.uk\/Upload\/Dewar_Report.pdf"},{"key":"bibr46-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"46Colonsay Death Register (1881\/539\/2\/1 and 1894\/539\/2\/5): General Register Office for Scotland (GROS); Edinburgh."},{"key":"bibr47-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"47Oban Times, 2 November 1912."},{"key":"bibr48-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"48Br Med J 1912; 2:1335\u201337.","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.2.2706.1335"},{"key":"bibr49-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/003693307902400114"},{"key":"bibr50-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"50Scotsman, 7 January 1913."},{"key":"bibr51-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"51Caledonian Med J 1913; IX:233\u201335."},{"key":"bibr52-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"52 Loder JV. Colonsay and Oronsay. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd; 1935. p. 189."},{"key":"bibr53-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"53Scotsman, 12 September 1913."},{"key":"bibr54-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"54Islay District Committee Minute Book: 6 and 28 November 1913. Lochgilphead: Argyll and Bute District Archives."},{"key":"bibr55-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"55Colonsay Death Register (1914\/539\/2\/2): General Register Office for Scotland (GROS); Edinburgh."},{"key":"bibr56-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"56Oban Times, 26 April 1924."},{"key":"bibr57-JRCPE.2011.415","unstructured":"57 McNeill R. On the public health of the insular and inland rural districts of Scotland. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd; 1890. p. 16."},{"key":"bibr58-JRCPE.2011.415","first-page":"831","volume":"1","year":"1924","journal-title":"Br Med J"},{"key":"bibr59-JRCPE.2011.415","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"59Roger McNeill [obituary]. Br Med J 1924; 1:843. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.1.3306.843-b","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.1.3306.843-b"}],"container-title":["Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.4997\/JRCPE.2011.415","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.4997\/JRCPE.2011.415","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T06:25:00Z","timestamp":1777616700000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.4997\/JRCPE.2011.415"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2011,12]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2011,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10.4997\/JRCPE.2011.415"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4997\/jrcpe.2011.415","relation":{},"ISSN":["1478-2715","2042-8189"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1478-2715","type":"print"},{"value":"2042-8189","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2011,12]]}}}